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neuroprosthesis

·September 14, 2012·3 min read

Scientists Use Prosthetic Device to Restore and Improve Impaired Decision Making Ability in Animals

Scientists used an electronic prosthetic system to tap into existing circuitry in the brain at the cellular level and record the firing patterns of multiple neurons in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain involved in decision-making. They then “played” that recording back to the same brain area to electrically stimulate decision-based neural activity. Not only did it restore function, in some cases, it also improved it.

The image shows the set up and output images for this research. The caption best explains the image.

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·February 12, 2013·5 min read

Neuroprosthesis Gives Rats the Ability to ‘Touch’ Infrared Light

Researchers have given rats the ability to "touch" infrared light by fitting them with an infrared detector wired to microscopic electrodes implanted in the part of the mammalian brain that processes tactile information. The study demonstrated that a novel sensory input could be processed by a cortical region specialized in another sense without "hijacking" the function of this brain area.

The image shows the robotic bat wing and a real bat.

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·February 21, 2013·5 min read

Researchers Build Robotic Bat Wing

Building a robotic bat wing, researchers have uncovered flight secrets of real bats: the function of ligaments, the elasticity of skin, the structural support of musculature, skeletal flexibility, upstroke and downstroke.

A graphic of two rats with white lights sparking between their heads is shown to depict the BTBI activity.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 28, 2013·6 min read

Brain-to-Brain Interface Allows Transmission of Tactile and Motor Information Between Rats 1000s of Miles Apart

Researchers electronically linked the brains of pairs of rats for the first time, enabling them to communicate directly to solve simple behavioral puzzles. A further test of this work successfully linked the brains of two animals thousands of miles apart - one in Durham, N.C., and one in Natal, Brazil.

This is an old schematic of an artificial arm and hand.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 9, 2013·3 min read

Sense of Touch Reproduced Through Prosthetic Hand

Artificial sensors in a prosthetic hand allows rhesus macaques to sense tactile stimulus, according to a new study. A similar device could be used in human trials within the next year, researchers hope.

This image is taken from the research paper. The caption best describes the image.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 14, 2013·4 min read

A Blueprint for Restoring Touch With a Prosthetic Hand

Researchers develop a new blueprint for touch-sensitive prosthetic limbs. The findings could someday convey real-time sensory information for amputees.

The image shows the monkey moving a ball.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 6, 2013·3 min read

Monkeys Use Minds to Move Two Virtual Arms

Using a brain machine interface, monkeys learn to control the movement of two virtual arms, a new study reports.

This is the robotic leg, shown from a frontal view.

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·November 8, 2013·4 min read

Robotic Advances Promise Artificial Legs That Emulate Healthy Limbs

Advances in robotics have made it possible to create artificial legs that can duplicate the natural movement of human legs. The research could help improve the mobility of lower-limb amputees.