Student Support for the Fifth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting

脑机接口（bci）将从大脑记录的信号转换成有用的输出，如控制计算机光标的移动，选择计算机屏幕上的字母或图标，甚至是神经假肢的操作。因此，脑机接口技术是一种潜在的强大的沟通和控制选择，适用于患有严重运动障碍或疾病的人，如肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）、脑干中风、脑瘫和脊髓损伤，这些人可能很少或甚至没有肌肉控制，因此无法与外界沟通。这项令人兴奋的工作的成功取决于神经科学、心理学、工程学、数学、计算机科学和临床康复研究人员之间密切和富有成效的多学科互动。由于没有标准的场所将这些团体聚集在一起分享成果，交换意见，并发展必要的密切和富有成效的合作，NIH赞助和纽约州奥尔巴尼的沃兹沃思中心于1999年组织了第一届国际脑机接口会议，随后在2002年，2005年和2010年举行了其他会议。这笔资金用于支持将于2013年6月3日至7日在加利福尼亚州阿西洛马举行的第五届国际脑机基础设施会议。由于BCI研究领域的增长，预计将有300名或更多的参与者参加，其中包括来自至少100个BCI研究小组的研究人员。从6月3日（周一）晚上的开幕招待会和晚宴，到6月7日（周五）早上早餐时的最后总结讨论，所有与会者都承诺参加整个会议。在此期间的日程安排包括，周二上午，由选定的脑机接口实验室的代表简要总结科学和技术进展。周二下午的会议包括BCI的创新应用和协议，以及BCI性能指标的小组讨论。周三的会议以专门为脑机接口领域的女性准备的早餐开始，接着是关于临床翻译和传播的会议。在海报和演示会后，将有一个市政厅会议，重点是组建一个BCI协会。周四，由脑机接口领域的研究人员提出的多达15个研讨会将同时举行，每个研讨会将结合邀请演讲、有针对性的讨论和尖锐的辩论。周四的会议将以讨论艺术现状和未来BCI技术研讨会结束。周五上午，所有与会者将举行全体会议，每个研讨会的负责人将进行15分钟的总结演讲。这次会议的主要资金来源仍然是美国国立卫生研究院。美国国家科学基金会的资金将使会议组织者能够支持大约30名额外的学生（包括本科生和研究生，以及博士后），参加并参加一个特别的会前研讨会以及会议本身。关于会议的更多信息可以在http://bcimeeting.org/2013/.Broader网站上找到：影响：学生将被鼓励参加会议的各个方面。第一天的实验室研究报告将使他们了解世界各地正在进行的脑机接口研究的广度和多样性。非正式讲习班将使他们熟悉目前在研究前沿正在处理的问题以及对这些问题的不同观点。学生将协助工作坊策划；参与车间讨论；并可协助编制总结报告。为准备正式会议，将于3日下午为学生们举行专题讨论会。座谈会的目的是，在进入各领域的专题会议之前，向学生们介绍总体情况，并填补理解上的空白。在周一和周三下午，学生们将参加特别的“回话”会议，在那里，知名的研究人员将回答问题并领导讨论。学生和博士后将提交他们的研究海报，由资深BCI研究人员组成的小组根据创新和科学或技术价值进行评判。所有的参与者都住在现场，所有的参与者都在现场吃饭，将有充足的机会进行非正式的讨论。这为学生和受训者创造了一个独特的机会，可以与知名研究人员交流并向他们学习。学生的参与是BCI会议的一个重要特征，让学生能够遇到潜在的导师和合作者。许多参加了前四次BCI会议的学生都将BCI作为他们选择的研究领域。PI将作出特别努力，鼓励传统上代表性不足的群体的成员参与。

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) translate signals recorded from the brain into useful outputs such as control of the movement of a computer cursor, selection of letters or icons on a computer screen, or even operation of a neuroprosthesis. Thus, BCI technology is a potentially powerful communication and control option for people with severe motor disabilities or disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury, who may have little or even no muscle control and therefore no means of communication with the external world. The success of this exciting work depends on close and productive multidisciplinary interactions among researchers working in neuroscience, psychology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and clinical rehabilitation. Because no standard venue existed to bring these groups together to share results, to exchange ideas, and to develop the requisite close and productive collaborations, the NIH sponsored and the Wadsworth Center in Albany NY organized the First International BCI Meeting in 1999, which was followed by additional meetings in 2002, 2005 and 2010.This is funding to support the Fifth International BCI Meeting, which will be held June 3-7, 2013, in Asilomar, California. Because of the growth in the field of BCI research 300 or more participants are expected to attend, including investigators from at least 100 BCI research groups. All attendees commit to the entire meeting, from the opening reception and dinner on the evening of Monday, June 3, through the final summary discussion at breakfast the morning of Friday, June 7. The schedule for the days in between includes, on Tuesday morning, brief summaries scientific and technical advances by representatives of selected BCI labs. Tuesday afternoon includes innovative applications and protocols for BCIs, as well as a panel on BCI performance metrics. Wednesday starts with a special breakfast for women in the BCI field, and continues with a session on Clinical Translation and Dissemination. After a poster and demo session, there will be a Town Hall meeting focused on forming a BCI Society. On Thursday up to 15 workshops proposed by researchers in the BCI field will run concurrently, each workshop to combine invited talks, targeted discussion, and sharply focused debates. Thursday's sessions will conclude with a discussion of the State of the Art and future workshops for BCI technologies. On Friday morning there will be a plenary session of all meeting attendees, in which leaders of each workshop will present a 15-minute summary presentation. The primary source of funding for the meeting will once again be the National Institutes of Health. NSF funds will enable the conference organizers to support about 30 additional students (including undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows), to attend and participate in a special pre-conference seminar as well as the conference itself. More information about the conference may be found online at http://bcimeeting.org/2013/.Broader Impacts: Students will be encouraged to participate in all aspects of the conference. The laboratory research reports of the first day will expose them to the breadth and variety of BCI research going on around the world. The informal workshops will familiarize them with the issues now being addressed on the cutting edge of the research and with the different viewpoints on those issues. Students will assist in workshop planning; participate in the workshop discussions; and may assist in the preparation of summary reports. In preparation for the main meeting, a special colloquium will be held for students on the afternoon of June 3 with the purpose of presenting a big picture, as well as filling in gaps in their understanding before they move into specialized sessions on various aspects of the field. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, students will attend special "talk back" sessions where established researchers will be available to answer questions and to lead discussions. Students and post-doctoral fellows will present posters on their research, which will be judged by a panel of senior BCI researchers on the basis of innovation and scientific or technical merit. With all participants housed on site and all meals for all attendees taken together on site, there will be ample opportunity for informal discussions. This creates a unique opportunity for students and trainees to mingle with and learn from established researchers. Student participation is a critical feature of the BCI meetings, allowing students to meet potential mentors and collaborators. Many students who attended the first four BCI meetings have gone on to pursue BCI as their chosen field of research. The PI will make a special effort to encourage participation by members of traditionally underrepresented groups.