Neural Science
Popular Science
Paralyzed people who are able to move again. Pain relief without side-effects. Parkinson patients without debilitating shakes. These are visions that the NRC hopes to realize through research.
The NRC is a cross-disciplinary center within the area of Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) and is coordinated by Jens Schouenborg, professor in Neurophysiology. The goal is to develop a whole new generation of BMI, new electrodes which can be operated into the brain and spinal cord. The electrodes will be able to communicate without wires with an external computer and thereby supply information to and from the nerve cells. The new electrodes will be used for studies in learning mechanisms, for treatment of paralyzed patients and patients with Parkinsons disease, for controlling prostheses and for pain relief. Other areas where the technique can be used are for example auto-medicating of epilepsy, improving memory functions and bladder control.
It is our hope that patients will be able to benefit from this research within the near future, in approximately 5-10 years. The benefits for the individual will naturally be very great, but the expected social economic savings will be substantial with the new technology.
About NRC
Vision
To improve quality of life for disabled people and individuals with neurodegenerative disease by listening to, understanding and talking to the nervous system by means of a neuroelectronic junction.
Aim
The aim is to develop a brain-computer interface (BMI) that enables recording from and/or stimulation of neurones in animals and eventually in humans. By allowing both recordings and stimulations, direct brain – computer interactions will be possible. This will allow for groundbreaking and pioneering basic research in :
- fundamental neuronal mechanisms related to learning and memory
- information processing in neuronal networks
The following researchers participate in the NRC.
Faculty of Medicine:
Jens Schouenborg (Neurophysiology)
Martin Garwicz (Neurophysiology)
Nils Danielsen (Neural Interfaces)
Angela Cenci-Nilsson (Parkinson Research)
and Göran Lundborg (Hand Surgery)
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