Miguel Nicolelis presents the innovations of the brain-machine interface at ISD
09/12/2016
By: Ascom ISD
Miguel Nicolelis presented, on December 8, 2016, the evolution of his studies in the area of brain-machine interfaces in Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neuroscience (IIN-ELS), ISD unit located in Macaíba-RN.
The neuroscientist narrated his research trajectory, which has repeatedly challenged and expanded the scientific knowledge established in the field of neuroscience, from the late 1980s to the present day. The first time he did so was with studies that confirmed the distributionist theory of neurons, which states that a single neuron is not responsible for complex human behaviors. Groups of these cells acting together are necessary for such behaviors to be presented.
Nicolelis' most recent work, in collaboration with researchers from several countries, has shown results that could revolutionize the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries. Training with brain-machine interfaces and virtual reality has allowed patients to partially recover movement and sensation in their lower limbs, which generates a huge gain in the quality of life of these individuals.
Nicolelis explained that the work developed in Macaíba and Natal was fundamental for the beginning of the experiments that allowed a young man with a spinal cord injury to use an exoskeleton to kick off the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As everything had to be done in a short space of time, if the facilities in Rio Grande do Norte were not prepared for this research, it would have been difficult for the international team to have completed the study in time for the event.
The results of this work led the group of researchers to identify that the training carried out promoted a partial recovery of sensations and leg movements in all eight study participants. The group is currently working on new advances in knowledge related to this topic. In August, some results of this study were published in the journal “Scientific Reports” and were among the most talked about scientific topics in the world at the time (link to the article HERE).
