Magnetic fields generated by microscopic devices implanted into the brain may be able to modulate brain-cell activity and reduce symptoms of several neurological disorders. Micromagnetic stimulation appears to generate the kind of neural activity currently elicited with electrical impulses for deep brain stimulation (DBS) – a therapy that can reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, other movement disorders, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain – and should avoid several common problems associated with DBS, report Massachusetts General Hospital investigators.
Medical researchers have successfully enabled a paralyzed monkey to move its hand, by delivering messages from the brain directly to the muscles, completely bypassing the spinal cord. This is a breakthrough for spinal-cord injuries, it opens doors to future brain implants that could restore movement in paralysed limbs.
A new Northwestern Medicine brain-machine technology delivers messages from the brain directly to the muscles – bypassing the spinal cord – to enable voluntary and complex movement of a paralyzed hand. The device could eventually be tested on, and perhaps aid, paralyzed patients.
Master’s degree or equivalent in any branch of Science such as Life Science / Physics/ Chemistry / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer application / Pharmacy / Veterinary Science/ Psychology
OR
A minimum of four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering / Technology / Medicine.
INTEGRATED Ph.D. (NEUROSCIENCE)
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any branch of Science such as Life Science / Physics / Chemistry / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer applications / Pharmacy / Veterinary Science / Psychology / Engineering / Technology / Medicine.
A dozen years have passed into the new millennium and we now have the honour of inviting you all to the Annual meet of the Neurological Society of India –Kerala chapter in the year 2012(Neurocon ’12) , to be held in the complacent city of Lord Sree Padmanabha with all its splendours on Febrary11th & 12th,2012. As you have noticed in the past the Trivandrum NSI conference (Nanons) has always been in the forefront in discussing the technology as well as the problems that we are going to face in future. This year we have decided to name our rendezvous as The Interface to commemorate the advances in the field of brain machine interface which will aid in overcoming many short comings of the damaged brain and nerves with the help of a machine or computer to do the job directly.
Neuroprosthetics (also called Neural Prosthetics) is a discipline related to neuroscience and biomedical engineering concerned with developing neural prostheses, artificial implantable devices to replace or improve the function of an impaired nervous system.Neuroprosthetics are the set of physical devices that interact with the brain or other neural tissue to augment, restore, or otherwise impact function.
Neuroprosthetics are electrical stimulation technologies that replace or assist damaged or malfunctioning neuromuscular organ systems and attempt to restore normal body processes, create or improve function, and/or reduce pain. These systems are either implanted or worn externally on the body. Such assistive devices range from intramuscular stimulation systems designed to limit limb atrophy in paralysis, to implanted bladder voiding systems and more complex implanted neuromuscular control.
The process of transitioning this technology into a clinically useful device will require two parallel paths of research. In the first path, experimental paradigms involving microelectrode array recordings in behaving animals will be developed in conjunction with signal processing techniques for studying the unknown aspects of neural coding and functional neurophysiology. These signal processing techniques will then be implemented in portable, low-power, wireless hardware.The second path, high-density array ECoG recordings in humans, provides a less invasive technique for neural interfaces however it still remains unknown how to extract BMI control signatures that are sufficiently spatially and temporally resolved. Neuroprosthetics is an area of intense scientific and clinical interest and rapid progress. The word’ prosthesis’ is derived from the Greek word for ‘addition’. A breakdown of the word includes ‘pros’ meaning ‘to’, and ‘thesis’, meaning ‘a placing’. Neuroprosthetic are in their infancy just now, but they offer two things that are truly wonderful:
1. Bypassing the body, and letting the mind interface directly with VR, for the ultimate immersive experience – the virtual body becomes as the normal functioning body
2. Augmented body parts will be able to be fitted to the body, and controlled by the brain as if you were born with them – after a little training, without conscious thought.
Call for scholarship applications for Erasmus Mundus Masters in Neuroscience
Study Subject(s):Neuroscience Course Level:Masters Scholarship Provider: Erasmus Mundus Scholarship can be taken at: Netherlands, Germany, France, Portugal, Canada
Eligibility:
Language Excellent proficiency in English is required.
The Candidates should provide one of the following English certificates with min. score:
• IELTS: 6.5 (with no score below 6)
• Paper-based TOEFL: 580
• Computer-based TOEFL: 237
• Internet-based TOEFL: 92
• Certificate of Advanced English: B/C
• Certificate of Proficiency in English: B/C
• Native speakers, candidates who’ve studied in an English-speaking country and candidates whose curriculum was entire held in English are exempted (official proof required). All candidates must have already obtained a first higher education degree or demonstrate a recognised equivalent level of learning according to national legislation and practices, with outstanding grades and/or other study results.
