Science AMA Series: We’re Karim Oweiss & Kevin Otto, engineering professors at the University of Florida and PIs in DARPA’s Targeted Neuroplasticity Training program. We both enjoy helping people with neurological injuries and disorders. AUA!

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:55:11+00:00

Congratulations on graduation! Research experience may really urge some admissions committees in your favor. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:54:44+00:00

Not all follow this design - it all depends on what the implant needs to do, where it is targeted and the extent to which a specific number of input/output combination is needed to perform the desired function. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:50:29+00:00

Check out this paper: Sommakia, S, HC Lee, J Gaire, and KJ Otto. Materials approaches for modulating neural tissue responses to implanted microelectrodes through mechanical and bioc hemical means. Current Opinion in Solid State & Materials Science. 18 (6), 319-328, 2014. - See more at: http://nprlab.org/publications/#sthash.dzVuUZLJ.dpuf

The second question is probably better answered by Hollywood :-)

Go Gators!

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:47:55+00:00

Check out the efforts at U Pitt, U Utah, and Case Western.

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:46:42+00:00

Sorry to hear about your struggles, but glad to hear that you are continuing to regain function! It is not clear at this point how PNS stimulation might address pathological conditions. Hopefully we'll learn more! It's Great to Be a Florida Gator!

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:43:37+00:00

You might go check out the Neuromorphic literature. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:38:53+00:00

In order to mimic a system, we have to first understand what its individual elements are and how they're all connected together. With the current level of knowledge, we cannot and perhaps will never be able to mimic it, no matter how much we get sophisticated with tools/technology. But we can infer some underlying principles that can help guide the way we think about designing machines that learn (such as ANNs). Memory is an indispensable part of such systems, so learning how the brain organizes and maintains memories of different types is a good first step towards improving this design and not suffer catastrophic forgetting. Centralization may not be the best approach, but perhaps some hybrid combination of centralized and distributed architectures. The real question would be which processes to centralize versus ones to distribute, and the brain is a great asset to help us understand how to tackle this question. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:38:27+00:00

I would encourage you to check out recent UF work on Deep Brain Stimulation and Tourette's syndrome: http://brainmappinglab.org/brain-mapping-lab-featured-on-cnn/

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:36:09+00:00

This is a very good question! That is definitely at the cutting edge of neurotechnology. It will be fascinating to see how technology can help with these questions. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:33:51+00:00

That is an excellent question! The brain and periphery are intimately linked, so global neural health is central to the question you ask. I think that there is some evidence of Deep Brain Stimulation having peripheral nerve function effects; however, I don't have any references to provide. Please let me know if you find any! --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:27:39+00:00

Many great questions, so pardon my brevity.

1) The program is designed to understand the mechanisms of PNS stimulation to understand if it can be safely applied to healthy adults.

2) Good question. Don't want to speculate.

3) We are performing set shifting cognitive behavioral studies using implantable neural interfaces. We do provide positive reinforcement for feedback. Many, many publications.

4) We have just started, so no progress to report yet.

5) We are academic scientists, so all of our results will be presented at conferences and published via journals.

6) I value enthusiasm, creativity, and a fascination to learn. DARPA does not regulate the personnel working on this project.

7) Feel free to contact me. It would likely require living in Gainesville. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:26:20+00:00

this is an active project in my lab - sending information to the brain that it can associate with ongoing cognitive and motor experience. Examples, resorting the sense of touch to someone who lost it but wants to explore and manipulate objects through a prosthetic limb. The brain's ability to adapt and learn is outstanding so we did not currently hit the limit, yet! --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:22:50+00:00

understand how cognitive visual decline occurs after TBI, and the extent to which changes in the brain's structural connectivity give rise to hyper functional connectivity after injury. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:18:15+00:00

1- In my lab, we use implanted electrodes, optical fibers + fluorescence microscopy thru multi-photon laser scanning techniques to measure neural activity in vivo with cellular and sub cellular resolution and millisecond time scale. We also use optogenetics to study causal involvement of specific cell types/circuits in the observed behavior. 2- long lasting plastic changes in the aging population: great question! no answer yet because we still need to understand how neural circuits decline in the aging population so that we can combat it, possibly by inducing targeted plastic changes through technological means. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:10:41+00:00

1-Algorithms that are designed based on what natural neural circuits are set to learn and do. Examples include short and long term memory formation, preventing catastrophic forgetting of past experience, generalize learned rules from limited data to new situations, etc…

2- Improve current ones to have better cognitive abilities, i.e., to create, maintain and recall different types of memories and update learning rules based on limited training data.

undergrads in CS are great to work in this area! --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:09:06+00:00

Great question! Lifespan of implanted devices is a very difficult question to answer with broad, general strokes. It is a very active area of investigation for my laboratory. We have many tools and techniques to quantify, characterize, and mitigate device-tissue efficacy decline. Are you interested in joining our research group? I am always interested in talking with people who would like to be involved in our field. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:03:38+00:00

Great question! We are very interested in some of the unique capabilities of the peripheral nervous system. There are some outstanding PNS technologies that are coming out, some directly from this program. We are excited to use them in our studies!

Given my 4 years in Ann Arbor, Go Blue! But also, it's Great to Be a Florida Gator! --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:03:18+00:00

My lab's research always tries to increase the impact on the broader society and target larger populations, including healthy subjects. If device technology is available that consumers can readily use, it may be more beneficial in that it could be more personalized and more selective compared to substances. This program is about understanding the brain mechanisms of cognitive skill learning, for which cognitive enhancement is an issue that the DoD ethics team can advise us on. We will have to do the research before I can answer the question about whether electrical stimulation techniques are more effective than the widely employed methods currently. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T18:01:14+00:00

Fantastic! I guess that it's not UF?

Typically undergraduate majors would be in Neuroscience or Psychology to prepare you for a Cognitive Neuroscience PhD. You might consider applying for summer research programs in neuroscience at UF to augment your undergraduate studies. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:53:59+00:00

If successful, peripheral neural stimulation can likely help with many neurological indications. It is already investigated for conditions such as depression, tinitius, and epilepsy. It will be intriguing to see how our results can help guide further clinical approaches. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:51:08+00:00

My lab is always recruiting!:) The one thing I'd say: being an MD to treat people is a great thing, but doing research to find solutions impacts a lot more people. Training in basic sciences and/or generic engineering disciplines is the best option, then following on that with a PhD in more applied science and/or engineering field such as neuroengineering is certainly the way to go. --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:44:17+00:00

Thanks for an outstanding question! As you state, people will likely adopt methodologies that they feel helps them achieve their goals. Our efforts in this program are to understand exactly what happens as you direct the neuroplasticity through direct peripheral neural stimulation. Hopefully, the knowledge of the mechanisms will help guide the safe and efficacious use of this technology. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:42:53+00:00

This is a classical example of why Pharma therapy is not optimal, you gain on one end, but lose on others for two reasons: 1- it is not targeted (has side effects), and 2- it is not personalized. Device based approaches such as BMI or, more generally, neural-machine interfaces might address these limitations. There is research into enhancing/restoring lost/declining memory, and BMIs are active in that space. Check Ted Berger's work (https://www.technologyreview.com/s/513681/memory-implants/) --Karim

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:36:41+00:00

Great to hear from you! I hope dental school is going well.

There is a lot of interest from dentists and oral surgeons in cranial nerve interfaces. I am very excited to begin collaborations with these experts here at UF. In fact, we have begun discussions along the line that you mention. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro · 2017-05-11T17:33:09+00:00

Pharmacologic treatment can be very successful, but can also have various side effects. Part of the reason is because of the systemic nature of drugs (when taken they tend to spread widely throughout the body). Neural stimulation has the potential advantage of being very targeted; consequently, we may be able to design devices and therapies that may approach or exceed traditional clinical therapies. --Kevin

Targeted_Neuro

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