WEEK 1, T2, Challenges

Question 1

What are the 5 main areas that keeps challenges in neuroengineering?

Answer 1

1. At the cellular level
2. Analyzing the brain in action
3. Brain stimulation
4. Brain computer interfaces
5. Brain systems and computational neuroscience

Question 2

What are the current challenges at cellular level?

Answer 2

1. Cell to cell communication
   —> new approach with optical engineering
   —> Use of lasers to activate ion pumps sensitive to specific wavelengths, to enable transien
   stimulation or inhibition of genetically targeted neurons by pulses of light.
2. Molecular monitoring of diagnostic and therapy control
   —> PET imaging in alzheimers disease
3. From cell to a network
   —> putting nuts and jolts together to engineer a brain
   —> the blue brain project
   —> brain organoid, generated from pluripotent stem cells

Question 3

What are the current challenges with analyzing the brain in action?

Answer 3

1. The functional side
   —> EEG
   —> MEG
2. Functiona connectivity
   —> Adressing causality
   —>How to estimate [causal] relationships between EEG or MEG signals?
   —>

3. Combining approaches
—> fMRI
—> EEG
—> multimodal imaging of the brain
—> inferring the brain sources from EEG or MEG measurements carried out on the scalp

Question 4

What are the current challenges with brain stimulation?

Answer 4

Electric and magnetic
—> Modulating perception, cognition and consciousness
—> alpha state

Question 5

What are the current challenges with computer interfaces?

Answer 5

BCI=Brain computer interface
BMI=Brain machine interface

Integrated therapeutic systems with BCI/BMI

Challenge to prove the association between ERD and movement facilitates instrumental learning and rewiring of the affected motor cortex.

Question 6

What are the current challenges regarding brain systems and computational neuroscience?

Answer 6

Two challenges:
(Both application of neural mass models)

EPILEPST
1. Nonlinear behavior, bifurcations, instability

INTERFACE
2. Intercace between neural activity and fMRI BOLD signal