A Virtual Reality Simulator to Study VLSBA and Test Brain-Actuating Technologies

用于研究 VLSBA 和测试大脑驱动技术的虚拟现实模拟器

• 批准号: 7979558
• 负责人: Miguel A. L. Nicolelis
• 金额: $ 78.5万
• 依托单位: DUKE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-30 至 2015-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7979558
• 关键词: Behavior; Behavioral; Brain; Brain imaging; Clinical; Cognitive; Complex; Computers; Data; Devices; Elements; Engineering; Environment; Environment Design; Future; Genetic; Goals; Imaging Device; Investigation; Laboratories; Limb structure; Measures; Methods; Motor; Movement; Neurons; Neurosciences; Paralysed; Patients; Property; Prosthesis; Research; Robotics; Sensory; Series; Technology; Testing; Touch sensation; abstracting; brain machine interface; design; human subject; innovation; mind control; nervous system disorder; neural circuit; neurophysiology; nonhuman primate; supercomputer; tool; virtual; virtual reality

DESCRIPTION Abstract: For the past 25 years, my research has focused on the investigation of the basic neurophysiological principles that allow neural circuits in the mammalian brain to generate sensory, motor, and cognitive behaviors. To pursue this goal, my laboratory has developed a series of highly innovative experimental approaches that combine electrophysiological, genetic, pharmacological, behavioral, computational, and engineering tools. Utilizing those, our laboratory has pioneered a revolutionary paradigm known as brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). Using BMIs, we have demonstrated that non-human primates and human subjects can effectively use their brain-derived electrical activity to directly control the movements of complex artificial devices, such as computer tools and prosthetic limbs. Yet, BMI research has barely touched the enormous biomedical potential that brain-actuating technologies will likely have in the future of both basic and clinical neuroscience. To start probing this future, I propose to develop the first shared brain-controlled virtual reality environment (BC-VRE) designed to investigate the dynamic properties of very-large scale brain activity (VLSBA) and the full potential of brain-actuating technologies for treating neurological disorders. The core of this virtual reality simulator will be formed by interfacing modern electrophysiological, magnetoenecephalographic (MEG), and brain imaging devices to a supercomputer cluster capable of rendering a virtual reality environment in which all constituent elements, including a variety of computational and robotic tools, and even virtual bodies, can be directly controlled by the VLSBA of interacting subjects. Initially, VLSBA will be obtained using a new method for mega-channel (up to 100,000 single neurons) recordings in non-human primates. Later on, the BC-VRE will also accept local or remote MEG/MRI data from human subjects. The BC-VRE will be initially used to: (1) measure how artificial tools are assimila

描述 摘要： 在过去的25年里，我的研究集中在基本神经生理学原理的调查，使哺乳动物大脑中的神经回路产生感觉，运动和认知行为。为了实现这一目标，我的实验室开发了一系列高度创新的实验方法，联合收割机了电生理学，遗传学，药理学，行为学，计算和工程工具。利用这些，我们的实验室开创了一种革命性的范式，称为脑机接口（BMI）。使用BMI，我们已经证明，非人类灵长类动物和人类受试者可以有效地使用他们的脑源性电活动来直接控制复杂的人工设备，如计算机工具和假肢的运动。然而，BMI的研究几乎没有触及大脑驱动技术在未来基础和临床神经科学中可能具有的巨大生物医学潜力。为了开始探索这一未来，我建议开发第一个共享的大脑控制虚拟现实环境（BC-VRE），旨在研究超大规模大脑活动（VLSBA）的动态特性以及大脑驱动技术治疗神经系统疾病的全部潜力。这个虚拟现实模拟器的核心将通过将现代电生理学，磁共振成像（MEG）和脑成像设备连接到能够呈现虚拟现实环境的超级计算机集群来形成，其中所有组成元素，包括各种计算和机器人工具，甚至虚拟身体，都可以直接由交互主体的VLSBA控制。最初，VLSBA将使用一种新的方法在非人类灵长类动物中进行大通道（多达100，000个单神经元）记录。之后，BC-VRE还将接受来自人类受试者的本地或远程MEG/MRI数据。BC-VRE最初将用于：（1）测量人工工具如何被同化，