Bidirectional Neural Interfaces
Investigation of the Adaptive Properties of the Network for Robot Control

Area 09 – Ingegneria industriale e dell'informazione

The in–vitro Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is an innovative approach that embodies the cultured neural network in neuroengineering, and in particular in neurorobotics, thus consenting to study learning, memory and information processing in real time. This method provides an instrument by which answer fundamental neuroscience questions, such as how the neurons code information, or how it is possible to induce, a “controllable” plasticity, in living tissue. It allows correlations to be made between neuronal morphology, connectivity, and disturbed parallel activity; furthermore, someday, hybrid BCI systems could eventually provide an important new communication and control “low–level” technology, i.e. neuroprosthesis, for those persons with motor disabilities or severe neuromuscular disorders. The book deals with the neurophysiological basis, describes the developed tools and the performed experiments, and issues the main results that have been achieved in three years of research.Antonio Novellino received his Laurea in Biomedical Engineering in 2001 and his Ph.D. in Bioengineering and Bioelectronics in 2005 at the University of Genova (Italy). At present, he is the eTT R&D team leader and his work deals with the development of innovative tools for the neuroengineering research and the development of new systems for the upper limbs evaluation in the clinical diagnosis.

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