Study of the brain, quality of life and child development

How can science combined with clinical practice transform the language development and communication of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? This was the question that motivated Anna Karoline Almeida's research for her master's degree at ISD, which remains the basis for her doctorate at the University of South Florida, in the United States, where she has already begun her studies.

At ISD, Anna used language assessment protocols combined with the transcranial electrical stimulation technique, discovering that the combination can be promising for the development of communication. In her doctorate, the researcher's goal is to expand these results, focusing on child development in ASD, especially for children who face learning difficulties in the context of bilingualism (mastery of two languages).

In Macaíba, Anna had the opportunity to explore different techniques, such as visual tracking (eye tracking) and electroencephalography (EEG). Now, in the United States, she was invited to lead mini-courses on the experience of research conducted in Brazil and on ISD's work in neuroengineering.

“During my master’s degree at ISD, I had experiences that went beyond the limits of speech therapy, which was truly enriching. During my doctorate, I hope to deepen my knowledge about language development and bring this learning to children and families who do not have access to these resources,” says the researcher.

Another person who saw scientific research with social purposes was speech therapist Aline Roberta Silva, who had another research object: tinnitus. Described as a sound sensation that does not originate from an external source (i.e., perceived only by the person experiencing it), this is a problem that can arise due to several factors and presents challenges to the quality of life of the person affected.

Therefore, Aline focused on neurobiological and electrophysiological analysis, evaluating how the brain responds to constant exposure to noise. The study went through several stages, such as the manufacture of microelectrodes, electrophysiological experiments and analysis and processing of biological signals. 

Now, as part of her PhD at the University of Freiburg in Germany, Aline will study the plasticity of the central auditory system. Specifically, the researcher will use her acquired knowledge about the auditory brain to understand how to improve spatial perception in patients with hearing loss.

“At ISD, I recognized myself as a scientist and had the opportunity to expand my vision. For me, it is an honor to say that I am the daughter of a bricklayer and a manicurist, the first person in my family to enter higher education and that I will soon have a doctorate. I hope that this will be an example that with opportunities in education, we can go far”, reinforces the scientist.

With her trip to Germany scheduled, the scientist started a charity raffle to help with transportation, food and accommodation costs during her first month abroad. Details about the campaign can be found at the link: https://bento.me/alineroberta. 

Neuroengineering, robotics and motor rehabilitation

Physiotherapists Ericka Serafini and Izadora Medeiros have similar goals in their research: to use neuroscience and neuroengineering to improve the rehabilitation of people with physical disabilities. Approved for doctoral programs at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), they will go to campuses different, but with innovative proposals in the health area.  

In the doctoral program in Physiotherapy at UFRN (campus of Natal), Ericka Serafini will continue to expand her research on the rehabilitation of complete Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). During her master's degree, she used a brain-computer interface (BCI) combined with the Lokomat, a robotic gait-assisting device, to understand the electrophysiological and clinical impacts of this combination.

The study strengthens the use of BCI as an assistive technology in rehabilitation and reinforces the method’s ability to improve brain connectivity, planning, control and execution of voluntary motor activities. In her doctorate, she plans to explore new therapeutic approaches that combine neuroengineering with therapy and that can further improve the quality of life of people affected by SCI. 

“I am very happy and excited about this new stage. The multidisciplinary training in the master’s degree was fundamental for my development, as it provided me with a solid foundation in neuroengineering and rehabilitation, as well as practical experiences and the use of technologies that were crucial for the development of my research skills,” says Ericka.

For Izadora Medeiros, the focus is neurofunctional physiotherapy and Parkinson's disease. She will go to campus from UFRN located in Santa Cruz, where he will focus his doctoral research on the movement analysis of people affected by Parkinson's or other neurological pathologies. 

At ISD, Izadora chose to investigate how neuroengineering can be an ally in motor rehabilitation, specifically for dual-task training, which refers to the action of walking and performing a cognitive task at the same time (such as walking and talking on a cell phone). She used transcranial electrical stimulation during treadmill walking with dual-task training, understanding this combination as a promising alternative for improving motor function. 

“During my doctorate, I intend to further deepen my knowledge of neurofunctional physiotherapy, which has been my chosen field since my undergraduate studies and which I was also able to work in during my master’s degree. My experience at ISD contributed not only to increasing my understanding of this field, but to my trajectory as a researcher and professional as a whole,” says Izadora.