New perspectives on the dialogue between brains and machines

Ferdinando A. Mussa-Ivaldi, Simon T. Alford, Michela Chiappalone, Luciano Fadiga, Amir Karniel, Michael Kositsky, Emma Maggiolini, Stefano Panzeri, Vittorio Sanguineti, Marianna Semprini, Alessandro Vato

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) are mostly investigated as a means to provide paralyzed people with new communication channels with the external world. However, the communication between brain and artificial devices also offers a unique opportunity to study the dynamical properties of neural systems. This review focuses on bidirectional interfaces, which operate in two ways by translating neural signals into input commands for the device and the output of the device into neural stimuli. We discuss how bidirectional BMIs help investigating neural information processing and how neural dynamics may participate in the control of external devices. In this respect, a bidirectional BMI can be regarded as a fancy combination of neural recording and stimulation apparatus, connected via an artificial body. The artificial body can be designed in virtually infinite ways in order to observe different aspects of neural dynamics and to approximate desired control policies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)44-52
Number of pages9
JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience
Volume4
Issue numberMAY
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2010

Keywords

  • Brain-machine interface
  • Dynamical dimension
  • Dynamical system
  • Lamprey
  • Neural plasticity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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