BrainGate Technology: An Emerging Innovation to Restore Arm and Hand Function

The Spaulding New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center (SNERSCIC) will present a live webcast on Thurs., May 16th from 3:30-5 p.m. PT on "BrainGate Technology: An Emerging Innovation to Restore Arm and Hand Function" presented by Dr. Leigh Hochberg, Director, Center for Neurotechnology & Neurorecovery Massachusetts General Hospital. His research focuses on the development and testing of novel neurotechnologies to help people with paralysis and other neurological disorders as well as understanding how nerve cells work in neurological diseases.

For people with cervical spinal cord injury and other neurological illnesses, more work is needed to develop assistive and rehabilitation technologies. Neuroscience research has led to the development of intracortical "brain-computer interfaces" (iBCIs) which are being developed to restore lost function. The first ongoing pilot clinical trials of an iBCI system, BrainGate, seek to determine the feasibility of persons with tetraplegia controlling a computer cursor or other devices simply by "intending" the movement of their own hand. Through the ongoing research, a variety of methods for decoding brain signals are being tested with the hope of returning movement to paralyzed limbs.  

In his presentation, Dr. Hochberg will: 

• Provide an introduction to the use of brain-computer interfaces to restore movement in people with upper limb paralysis

• Provide an overview of ongoing brain-computer interface-based clinical trials

• Review the use of computer-based technology in the diagnosis and management of neurological conditions

REGISTER HERE for this free webcast.