NCS-FO: Conformable, expandable neural interface devices to assay natural cognitive maturation of the developing brain

研究大脑回路的发育有助于理解大脑是如何变得能够执行复杂的认知功能的。一个关键的缺失策略是，当有机体向需要认知过程的行为的成功执行过渡时，监控大脑活动的能力。该项目涉及使用生物电子设备，这些设备可以在不同的大脑结构自然生长时与它们接口，以监测未成熟的啮齿动物在自然环境中表现出的行为。这些装置将由柔软的有机材料制成，可以在最小损害的情况下与生物组织建立有效的接口。这个项目的总体目标是识别新出现的认知的神经生理学特征，使用对获得的纵向数据的计算分析来跟踪发展轨迹。这项研究的结果将提高生物医学设备的效率，并为支持认知的大脑回路形成原理提供关键见解。这项工作有望指导能够适当监测儿童发展的公共卫生倡议。从教育的角度来看，这个项目旨在扩大跨学科倡议的培训，特别是在工程学和神经科学受训人员之间建立合作伙伴关系，并强调将设备从开发转化为功能利用所需的迭代反馈过程。本项目旨在解决重点领域(I)神经工程和大脑启发的概念和设计，以及(Ii)NSF了解神经和认知系统的综合策略在现实、复杂环境中的认知和神经过程。总体目标是使用一种集成的可植入神经设备，能够纵向获取神经生理数据，以研究随着动物变得能够执行高级自然行为而认知过程的神经关联。中心假设是，有机电子与柔软、可扩展的底物相结合，可以在不限制自发行为的情况下，从发育中的大脑监测局部场电位和动作电位。这些数据将确定神经计算能力的预测因素，以支持单个有机体的认知。这项高风险/高回报研究的基本原理是，需要融合工程学和神经科学专业知识的新型监测方法，以深入了解认知过程如何在复杂环境中出现。这项工作产生的材料、方法和数据有可能提供显著的医疗和社会效益，例如：(I)用于从人体获取神经生理活动的柔软、可整合的接口；(Ii)安全地扩大神经电子设备用于儿科年龄组的方法；以及(Iii)用于预防医学和生活方式管理的可穿戴式生物电子产品。从涉及自然、行为和社会情况的动物中产生新的数据集，将使神经科学界受益，并导致进一步的科学发现。教育方面特别强调改善从事STEM研究的受训人员的多样性，并向这些受训人员提供形成、参与和管理项目所需的技能，这些项目需要强有力的跨学科合作，并涉及来自不同培训背景的个人。将对这些努力实施总结性评估，以评估在将生物电子学核心原理与神经科学分析相结合的培训方面的总体成功，目标是为工程学和神经科学领域之间的协同创造新的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Investigating brain circuit development can facilitate understanding of how the brain becomes capable of performing complex cognitive functions. A key missing strategy is the ability to monitor brain activity as an organism transitions to successful performance of behaviors requiring cognitive processes. This project involves using bioelectronic devices that can interface with different brain structures as they naturally growto monitor immature rodents as they perform behaviors in naturalistic environments. These devices will be made out of soft, organic materials that can establish an effective interface with biological tissue with minimal damage. The overall goal of this project is to identify neurophysiologic signatures of emerging cognition, using computational analysis on acquired longitudinal data to track developmental trajectories.The outcomes of this research will improve the efficiency of biomedical devices and provide key insights into principles underlying formation of brain circuits that can support cognition. This work holds promise for guiding public health initiatives that could enable appropriate monitoring of childhood development. From an educational perspective, this project aims to expand training in interdisciplinary initiatives, specificallyfocusing on creating partnerships between engineering and neuroscience trainees and highlighting the iterative feedback process required to transition a device from development to functional utilization.This project aims to addresses focus areas (i) neuroengineering and brain-inspired concepts and designs, and (ii) cognitive and neural processes in realistic, complex environments of NSF Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems. The overall objective is to use an integrated implantable neural device that enables longitudinal acquisition of neurophysiological data to investigate neuralcorrelates of cognitive processes as animals become capable of performing advanced naturalistic behaviors. The central hypothesis is that organic electronics in combination with soft, expandable substrates can enable monitoring of local field potentials and action potentials from the developing brain without restricting spontaneous behavior. This data will identify predictors of capacity for neural computationsupporting cognition in individual organisms. The rationale for this high-risk/high-payoff research is that novel monitoring approaches that merge engineering and neuroscience expertise are required to derive insight into how cognitive processes emerge in complex environments. The materials, approaches, and data generated by this work have the potential to provide notable medical and social benefits, such as: (i)soft, conformable interfaces for acquisition of neurophysiological activity from the human body; ii) approaches to safely expand neuroelectronic devices to use in pediatric age groups; and iii) accessible wearable bioelectronics for preventive medicine and lifestyle management. Generation of novel datasets from animals involved in naturalistic behavioral and social situations will benefit the neurosciencecommunity and lead to further scientific discoveries. The educational aspects particularly emphasize improving diversity of trainees engaged in STEM research, and providing these trainees with the skills required to form, participate in, and manage projects that require strong interdisciplinary collaboration and involve individuals from disparate training backgrounds. Summative evaluation will be implemented forthese efforts to evaluate overall success in integrating training about core principles of bioelectronics with neuroscientific analysis, with the goal of creating new opportunities for synergy between engineering and neuroscience fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.