Researchers Developing Brain-Mapping Technology
April 18, 2016 | University of Arizona College of EngineeringEstimated reading time: 4 minutes
Cowen added, “This is a very interesting adventure we’re undertaking, because nobody knows what ABI will actually measure. Will it measure the activity of tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of neurons? Will it detect the activity at a specific frequency, or at a range of frequencies?”
ABI could also provide a clearer picture of activity in structures deep in the brain, like the amygdala and hippocampus.
“There’s an important diagnostic aspect to this, because if ABI can pick up abnormal electrical activity coming from these structures, it could reveal signatures for specific brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease,” Cowen said. “ABI could be a great technique for diagnosing traumatic brain injuries like concussion, or a noninvasive way to diagnose a seizure.”
Clinical Possibilities
While still experimental, ABI technology could have many important clinical applications. For example, doctors might use it as an add-on device for an ultrasound machine.
Similar to how an obstetrician uses an ultrasound probe to see images of a fetus, a neurologist might hold the UA-created transducer to a person’s head to see images of electrical activity in a particular neural circuit. A single electrode on the head would pick up the activity and convert it digitally in real time for projection on a display monitor, perhaps, or under a microscope.
ABI might also help a brain surgeon determine which tissue to remove to reduce seizures in a patient with epilepsy. Or it might help a neurologist monitor a drug’s effectiveness in reducing electrical spikes that cause hallucinations in a patient with schizophrenia.
However it is used, Witte said, ABI could be a safe and effective tool for diagnosing and treating devastating neurological and psychiatric disorders, and for revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain -- one of the federal government’s Grand Challenges of the 21st century.
Page 2 of 2Suggested Items
Marcy’s Musings: The ‘Magic’ of Additive Processes
05/21/2024 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsThough modern semi-additive and fully additive technologies are still emerging for PCB manufacturing, additive technology itself is not new. Many PCB fabricators find themselves at a crossroads when deciding whether to change their current processes and go additive or stay the course until something significant compels a change. But change is on the horizon, and it seems to be driven by significant technological advancements in chips and advanced packaging, offering PCB fabricators some additive manufacturing solutions to explore.
Textron Systems Collaborates with Kodiak to Develop Uncrewed Military Vehicle
05/20/2024 | PRNewswireTextron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, a leading developer of crewed and uncrewed military ground vehicles, and Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading self-driving technology developer for the trucking and defense markets, announced that they are collaborating to develop an autonomous military ground vehicle specifically designed for driverless operations.
Additive Manufacturing: PCB007 Magazine May 2024 Issue
05/20/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThough modern semi-additive and fully additive technologies are still emerging for PCB manufacturing, additive technology itself is not new. In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
Terran Orbital’s GEOStare SV2 Captures 3 Years of Success in High-Resolution Imaging
05/17/2024 | BUSINESS WIRETerran Orbital Corporation, a global leader in satellite-based solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, celebrates the 3rd anniversary of its successful GEOStare SV2 mission. Launched on May 15, 2021, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, GEOStare SV2 has surpassed expectations, delivering exceptional results for commercial satellite imagery.
Indium Experts to Present on High-Temperature, Lead-Free Solder Paste and High Reliability Liquid Metal Alloys Poster at ECTC
05/16/2024 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Research Associate Kyle Aserian will deliver a presentation at the 74th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) on May 31, in Denver, Colorado.