CIMIT Summer Education Series 2007 July 10: Summer Series opens with discussion of restorative neurotechnology The kick-off event of the Summer Education Series drew a capacity audience at the MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research on July 10, and provided listeners with reasons for optimism regarding the future of restorative neurotechnology. The series is part of the ongoing CIMIT Forum. This event marked the first of a four-part series in July titled: “Neurotechnology: Translating Basic Discoveries into Clinical Promise.” Presenters were Christopher Moore, PhD, Mitsui CD Chair, assistant professor of neuroscience, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT; and Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD, associate investigator, Department of Veterans Affairs, Providence (R.I.) VA Medical Center; investigator in neuroscience at Brown University, collaborating with the laboratory of John Donoghue; and instructor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Hochberg addressed the theme of “Brain-computer interfaces, restorative neurotechnology.” He cited a small FDA-approved pilot study examining the feasibility of persons with tetraplegia controlling a computer cursor by imagining movement of their own hand. Dr. Hochberg said that by harnessing the power of intracortically-recorded signals from motor cortex, neuronal activities are transmitted via cabling to a computer, and then decoded in real time into either the movement of a cursor or control over other external devices. He presented video footage of a patient, with an attachment in his cranium, manipulating a cursor just by “willing it” to move. This function enabled him to open his email. The patient also was able to make a prosthetic hand open and close. “Preliminary results have been encouraging,” said Dr. Hochberg, “There is potential for this and related neurotechnologies to re-enable the communication, mobility and independence of persons with a physical disability.” He said that more than 100,000 worldwide are affected by serious immobility, and that such investigation has the potential to aid many patients. Dr. Moore spoke on the subject of “Cortical Maps: New Hypotheses as to Their Computational Value and How They Might Save Neural Prosthetics.” He suggested that changes in blood flow as it relates to neural activity could be a key factor in understanding brain-body interfaces. |
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