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        <title>Frontiers in Neuroengineering | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroengineering</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Neuroengineering | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-04-04T21:35:38.841+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00004</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00004</link>
        <title><![CDATA[SET: a pupil detection method using sinusoidal approximation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2015-04-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Amir-Homayoun Javadi</author><author>Zahra Hakimi</author><author>Morteza Barati</author><author>Vincent Walsh</author><author>Lili Tcheang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Mobile eye-tracking in external environments remains challenging, despite recent advances in eye-tracking software and hardware engineering. Many current methods fail to deal with the vast range of outdoor lighting conditions and the speed at which these can change. This confines experiments to artificial environments where conditions must be tightly controlled. Additionally, the emergence of low-cost eye tracking devices calls for the development of analysis tools that enable non-technical researchers to process the output of their images. We have developed a fast and accurate method (known as “SET”) that is suitable even for natural environments with uncontrolled, dynamic and even extreme lighting conditions. We compared the performance of SET with that of two open-source alternatives by processing two collections of eye images: images of natural outdoor scenes with extreme lighting variations (“Natural”); and images of less challenging indoor scenes (“CASIA-Iris-Thousand”). We show that SET excelled in outdoor conditions and was faster, without significant loss of accuracy, indoors. SET offers a low cost eye-tracking solution, delivering high performance even in challenging outdoor environments. It is offered through an open-source MATLAB toolkit as well as a dynamic-link library (“DLL”), which can be imported into many programming languages including C# and Visual Basic in Windows OS (www.eyegoeyetracker.co.uk).]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00003</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00003</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The chronic challenge—new vistas on long-term multisite contacts to the central nervous system]]></title>
        <pubdate>2015-03-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Ulrich G. Hofmann</author><author>Jürgen Krüger</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00002</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00002</link>
        <title><![CDATA[High frequency switched-mode stimulation can evoke post synaptic responses in cerebellar principal neurons]]></title>
        <pubdate>2015-03-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Marijn N. van Dongen</author><author>Freek E. Hoebeek</author><author>S. K. E. Koekkoek</author><author>Chris I. De Zeeuw</author><author>Wouter A. Serdijn</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper investigates the efficacy of high frequency switched-mode neural stimulation. Instead of using a constant stimulation amplitude, the stimulus is switched on and off repeatedly with a high frequency (up to 100 kHz) duty cycled signal. By means of tissue modeling that includes the dynamic properties of both the tissue material as well as the axon membrane, it is first shown that switched-mode stimulation depolarizes the cell membrane in a similar way as classical constant amplitude stimulation. These findings are subsequently verified using in vitro experiments in which the response of a Purkinje cell is measured due to a stimulation signal in the molecular layer of the cerebellum of a mouse. For this purpose a stimulator circuit is developed that is able to produce a monophasic high frequency switched-mode stimulation signal. The results confirm the modeling by showing that switched-mode stimulation is able to induce similar responses in the Purkinje cell as classical stimulation using a constant current source. This conclusion opens up possibilities for novel stimulation designs that can improve the performance of the stimulator circuitry. Care has to be taken to avoid losses in the system due to the higher operating frequency.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00001</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2015.00001</link>
        <title><![CDATA[NeuroPG: open source software for optical pattern generation and data acquisition]]></title>
        <pubdate>2015-03-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Benjamin W. Avants</author><author>Daniel B. Murphy</author><author>Joel A. Dapello</author><author>Jacob T. Robinson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Patterned illumination using a digital micromirror device (DMD) is a powerful tool for optogenetics. Compared to a scanning laser, DMDs are inexpensive and can easily create complex illumination patterns. Combining these complex spatiotemporal illumination patterns with optogenetics allows DMD-equipped microscopes to probe neural circuits by selectively manipulating the activity of many individual cells or many subcellular regions at the same time. To use DMDs to study neural activity, scientists must develop specialized software to coordinate optical stimulation patterns with the acquisition of electrophysiological and fluorescence data. To meet this growing need we have developed an open source optical pattern generation software for neuroscience—NeuroPG—that combines, DMD control, sample visualization, and data acquisition in one application. Built on a MATLAB platform, NeuroPG can also process, analyze, and visualize data. The software is designed specifically for the Mightex Polygon400; however, as an open source package, NeuroPG can be modified to incorporate any data acquisition, imaging, or illumination equipment that is compatible with MATLAB’s Data Acquisition and Image Acquisition toolboxes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00040</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00040</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Real-time in vivo optogenetic neuromodulation and multielectrode electrophysiologic recording with NeuroRighter]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-10-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>Nealen G. Laxpati</author><author>Babak Mahmoudi</author><author>Claire-Anne Gutekunst</author><author>Jonathan P. Newman</author><author>Riley Zeller-Townson</author><author>Robert E. Gross</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Optogenetic channels have greatly expanded neuroscience’s experimental capabilities, enabling precise genetic targeting and manipulation of neuron subpopulations in awake and behaving animals. However, many barriers to entry remain for this technology – including low-cost and effective hardware for combined optical stimulation and electrophysiologic recording. To address this, we adapted the open-source NeuroRighter multichannel electrophysiology platform for use in awake and behaving rodents in both open and closed-loop stimulation experiments. Here, we present these cost-effective adaptations, including commercially available LED light sources; custom-made optical ferrules; 3D printed ferrule hardware and software to calibrate and standardize output intensity; and modifications to commercially available electrode arrays enabling stimulation proximally and distally to the recording target. We then demonstrate the capabilities and versatility of these adaptations in several open and closed-loop experiments, demonstrate spectrographic methods of analyzing the results, as well as discuss artifacts of stimulation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00039</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00039</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A CMOS IC-based multisite measuring system for stimulation and recording in neural preparations in vitro]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-10-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Takashi Tateno</author><author>Jun Nishikawa</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In this report, we describe the system integration of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) chip, capable of both stimulation and recording of neurons or neural tissues, to investigate electrical signal propagation within cellular networks in vitro. The overall system consisted of three major subunits: a 5.0 × 5.0 mm CMOS IC chip, a reconfigurable logic device (field-programmable gate array, FPGA), and a PC. To test the system, microelectrode arrays (MEAs) were used to extracellularly measure the activity of cultured rat cortical neurons and mouse cortical slices. The MEA had 64 bidirectional (stimulation and recording) electrodes. In addition, the CMOS IC chip was equipped with dedicated analog filters, amplification stages, and a stimulation buffer. Signals from the electrodes were sampled at 15.6 kHz with 16-bit resolution. The measured input-referred circuitry noise was 10.1 μ V root mean square (10 Hz to 100 kHz), which allowed reliable detection of neural signals ranging from several millivolts down to approximately 33 μ Vpp. Experiments were performed involving the stimulation of neurons with several spatiotemporal patterns and the recording of the triggered activity. An advantage over current MEAs, as demonstrated by our experiments, includes the ability to stimulate (voltage stimulation, 5-bit resolution) spatiotemporal patterns in arbitrary subsets of electrodes. Furthermore, the fast stimulation reset mechanism allowed us to record neuronal signals from a stimulating electrode around 3 ms after stimulation. We demonstrate that the system can be directly applied to, for example, auditory neural prostheses in conjunction with an acoustic sensor and a sound processing system.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00038</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00038</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Challenges in clinical applications of brain computer interfaces in individuals with spinal cord injury]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-09-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Rüdiger Rupp</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are devices that measure brain activities and translate them into control signals used for a variety of applications. Among them are systems for communication, environmental control, neuroprostheses, exoskeletons, or restorative therapies. Over the last years the technology of BCIs has reached a level of matureness allowing them to be used not only in research experiments supervised by scientists, but also in clinical routine with patients with neurological impairments supervised by clinical personnel or caregivers. However, clinicians and patients face many challenges in the application of BCIs. This particularly applies to high spinal cord injured patients, in whom artificial ventilation, autonomic dysfunctions, neuropathic pain, or the inability to achieve a sufficient level of control during a short-term training may limit the successful use of a BCI. Additionally, spasmolytic medication and the acute stress reaction with associated episodes of depression may have a negative influence on the modulation of brain waves and therefore the ability to concentrate over an extended period of time. Although BCIs seem to be a promising assistive technology for individuals with high spinal cord injury systematic investigations are highly needed to obtain realistic estimates of the percentage of users that for any reason may not be able to operate a BCI in a clinical setting.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00037</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00037</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Corrigendum: Nanocrystalline diamond surfaces for adhesion and growth of primary neurons, conflicting results and rational explanation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-09-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>General Commentary</category>
        <author>Matthew McDonald</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00036</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00036</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Short-term dynamics of causal information transfer in thalamocortical networks during natural inputs and microstimulation for somatosensory neuroprosthesis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-09-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mulugeta Semework</author><author>Marcello DiStasio</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Recording the activity of large populations of neurons requires new methods to analyze and use the large volumes of time series data thus created. Fast and clear methods for finding functional connectivity are an important step toward the goal of understanding neural processing. This problem presents itself readily in somatosensory neuroprosthesis (SSNP) research, which uses microstimulation (MiSt) to activate neural tissue to mimic natural stimuli, and has the capacity to potentiate, depotentiate, or even destroy functional connections. As the aim of SSNP engineering is artificially creating neural responses that resemble those observed during natural inputs, a central goal is describing the influence of MiSt on activity structure among groups of neurons, and how this structure may be altered to affect perception or behavior. In this paper, we demonstrate the concept of Granger causality, combined with maximum likelihood methods, applied to neural signals recorded before, during, and after natural and electrical stimulation. We show how these analyses can be used to evaluate the changing interactions in the thalamocortical somatosensory system in response to repeated perturbation. Using LFPs recorded from the ventral posterolateral thalamus (VPL) and somatosensory cortex (S1) in anesthetized rats, we estimated pair-wise functional interactions between functional microdomains. The preliminary results demonstrate input-dependent modulations in the direction and strength of information flow during and after application of MiSt. Cortico-cortical interactions during cortical MiSt and baseline conditions showed the largest causal influence differences, while there was no statistically significant difference between pre- and post-stimulation baseline causal activities. These functional connectivity changes agree with physiologically accepted communication patterns through the network, and their particular parameters have implications for both rehabilitation and brain—machine interface SSNP applications.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00035</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00035</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Movement-related cortical potentials in paraplegic patients: abnormal patterns and considerations for BCI-rehabilitation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-08-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ren Xu</author><author>Ning Jiang</author><author>Aleksandra Vuckovic</author><author>Muhammad Hasan</author><author>Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting</author><author>David Allan</author><author>Matthew Fraser</author><author>Bahman Nasseroleslami</author><author>Bernie Conway</author><author>Kim Dremstrup</author><author>Dario Farina</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Non-invasive EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) can be promising for the motor neuro-rehabilitation of paraplegic patients. However, this shall require detailed knowledge of the abnormalities in the EEG signatures of paraplegic patients. The association of abnormalities in different subgroups of patients and their relation to the sensorimotor integration are relevant for the design, implementation and use of BCI systems in patient populations. This study explores the patterns of abnormalities of movement related cortical potentials (MRCP) during motor imagery tasks of feet and right hand in patients with paraplegia (including the subgroups with/without central neuropathic pain (CNP) and complete/incomplete injury patients) and the level of distinctiveness of abnormalities in these groups using pattern classification. The most notable observed abnormalities were the amplified execution negativity and its slower rebound in the patient group. The potential underlying mechanisms behind these changes and other minor dissimilarities in patients’ subgroups, as well as the relevance to BCI applications, are discussed. The findings are of interest from a neurological perspective as well as for BCI-assisted neuro-rehabilitation and therapy.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00034</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00034</link>
        <title><![CDATA[In vivo monitoring of glial scar proliferation on chronically implanted neural electrodes by fiber optical coherence tomography]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-08-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yijing Xie</author><author>Nadja Martini</author><author>Christina Hassler</author><author>Robert D. Kirch</author><author>Thomas Stieglitz</author><author>Andreas Seifert</author><author>Ulrich G. Hofmann</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In neural prosthetics and stereotactic neurosurgery, intracortical electrodes are often utilized for delivering therapeutic electrical pulses, and recording neural electrophysiological signals. Unfortunately, neuroinflammation impairs the neuron-electrode-interface by developing a compact glial encapsulation around the implants in long term. At present, analyzing this immune reaction is only feasible with post-mortem histology; currently no means for specific in vivo monitoring exist and most applicable imaging modalities can not provide information in deep brain regions. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a well established imaging modality for in vivo studies, providing cellular resolution and up to 1.2 mm imaging depth in brain tissue. A fiber based spectral domain OCT was shown to be capable of minimally invasive brain imaging. In the present study, we propose to use a fiber based spectral domain OCT to monitor the progression of the tissue's immune response through scar encapsulation progress in a rat animal model. A fine fiber catheter was implanted in rat brain together with a flexible polyimide microelectrode in sight both of which acts as a foreign body and induces the brain tissue immune reaction. OCT signals were collected from animals up to 12 weeks after implantation and thus gliotic scarring in vivo monitored for that time. Preliminary data showed a significant enhancement of the OCT backscattering signal during the first 3 weeks after implantation, and increased attenuation factor of the sampled tissue due to the glial scar formation.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00029</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00029</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Neurorehabilitation of social dysfunctions: a model-based neurofeedback approach for low and high-functioning autism]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Jaime A. Pineda</author><author>Elisabeth V. C. Friedrich</author><author>Kristen LaMarca</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an increasingly prevalent condition with core deficits in the social domain. Understanding its neuroetiology is critical to providing insights into the relationship between neuroanatomy, physiology and social behaviors, including imitation learning, language, empathy, theory of mind, and even self-awareness. Equally important is the need to find ways to arrest its increasing prevalence and to ameliorate its symptoms. In this review, we highlight neurofeedback studies as viable treatment options for high-functioning as well as low-functioning children with ASD. Lower-functioning groups have the greatest need for diagnosis and treatment, the greatest barrier to communication, and may experience the greatest benefit if a treatment can improve function or prevent progression of the disorder at an early stage. Therefore, we focus on neurofeedback interventions combined with other kinds of behavioral conditioning to induce neuroplastic changes that can address the full spectrum of the autism phenotype.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00032</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00032</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Changes in scalp potentials and spatial smoothing effects of inclusion of dura layer in human head models for EEG simulations]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-08-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ceon Ramon</author><author>Paolo Garguilo</author><author>Egill A. Fridgeirsson</author><author>Jens Haueisen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The dura layer which covers the brain is less conductive than the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) and also more conductive than the skull bone. This could significantly influence the flow of volume currents from cortex to the scalp surface which will also change the magnitude and spatial profiles of scalp potentials. This was examined with a 3-D finite element method (FEM) model of an adult subject constructed from 192 segmented axial magnetic resonance (MR) slices with 256×256 pixel resolution. The voxel resolution was 1×1×1 mm. The model included the dura layer. In addition, other major tissues were also identified. The electrical conductivities of various tissues were obtained from the literature. The conductivities of dura and CSF were 0.001 S/m and 0.06 S/m, respectively. The electrical activity of the cortex was represented by 144,000 distributed dipolar sources with orientations normal to the local cortical surface. The dipolar intensity was in the range of 0.0–0.4 mA meter with a uniform random distribution. Scalp potentials were simulated for two head models with an adaptive finite element solver. One model had the dura layer and in the other model, dura layer was replaced with the CSF. Spatial contour plots of potentials on the cortical surface, dural surface and the scalp surface were made. With the inclusion of the dura layer, scalp potentials decrease by about 20%. The contours of gyri and sulci structures were visible in the spatial profiles of the cortical potentials which were smoothed out on the dural surface and were not visible on the scalp surface. These results suggest that dura layer should be included for an accurate modeling of scalp and cortical potentials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00033</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00033</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Resistive and reactive changes to the impedance of intracortical microelectrodes can be mitigated with polyethylene glycol under acute in vitro and in vivo settings]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-08-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Salah Sommakia</author><author>Janak Gaire</author><author>Jenna L. Rickus</author><author>Kevin J. Otto</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The reactive response of brain tissue to implantable intracortical microelectrodes is thought to negatively affect their recordable signal quality and impedance, resulting in unreliable longitudinal performance. The relationship between the progression of the reactive tissue into a glial scar and the decline in device performance is unclear. We show that exposure to a model protein solution in vitro and acute implantation result in both resistive and capacitive changes to electrode impedance, rather than purely resistive changes. We also show that applying 4000 MW polyethylene glycol (PEG) prevents impedance increases in vitro, and reduces the percent change in impedance in vivo following implantation. Our results highlight the importance of considering the contributions of non-cellular components to the decline in neural microelectrode performance, and present a proof of concept for using a simple dip-coated PEG film to modulate changes in microelectrode impedance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00031</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00031</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Characterizing relationships of DTI, fMRI, and motor recovery in stroke rehabilitation utilizing brain-computer interface technology]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jie Song</author><author>Brittany M. Young</author><author>Zack Nigogosyan</author><author>Leo M. Walton</author><author>Veena A. Nair</author><author>Scott W. Grogan</author><author>Mitchell E. Tyler</author><author>Dorothy Farrar-Edwards</author><author>Kristin E. Caldera</author><author>Justin A. Sattin</author><author>Justin C. Williams</author><author>Vivek Prabhakaran</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The relationship of the structural integrity of white matter tracts and cortical activity to motor functional outcomes in stroke patients is of particular interest in understanding mechanisms of brain structural and functional changes while recovering from stroke. This study aims to probe these underlying mechanisms using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fMRI measures. We examined the structural integrity of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) using DTI and corticomotor activity using motor-task fMRI in stroke patients who completed up to 15 sessions of rehabilitation therapy using Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology. We hypothesized that (1) the structural integrity of PLIC and corticomotor activity are affected by stroke; (2) changes in structural integrity and corticomotor activity following BCI intervention are related to motor recovery; (3) there is a potential relationship between structural integrity and corticomotor activity. We found that (1) the ipsilesional PLIC showed significantly decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values when compared to the contralesional PLIC; (2) lower ipsilesional PLIC-FA values were significantly associated with worse motor outcomes (i.e., ipsilesional PLIC-FA and motor outcomes were positively correlated.); (3) lower ipsilesional PLIC-FA values were significantly associated with greater ipsilesional corticomotor activity during impaired-finger-tapping-task fMRI (i.e., ipsilesional PLIC-FA and ipsilesional corticomotor activity were negatively correlated), with an overall bilateral pattern of corticomotor activity observed; and (4) baseline FA values predicted motor recovery assessed after BCI intervention. These findings suggest that (1) greater vs. lesser microstructural integrity of the ipsilesional PLIC may contribute toward better vs. poor motor recovery respectively in the stroke-affected limb and demand lesser vs. greater cortical activity respectively from the ipsilesional motor cortex; and that (2) PLIC-FA is a promising biomarker in tracking and predicting motor functional recovery in stroke patients receiving BCI intervention.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00030</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00030</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Brain-computer interface-based robotic end effector system for wrist and hand rehabilitation: results of a three-armed randomized controlled trial for chronic stroke]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kai Keng Ang</author><author>Cuntai Guan</author><author>Kok Soon Phua</author><author>Chuanchu Wang</author><author>Longjiang Zhou</author><author>Ka Yin Tang</author><author>Gopal J. Ephraim Joseph</author><author>Christopher Wee Keong Kuah</author><author>Karen Sui Geok Chua</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of an Electroencephalography (EEG)-based Motor Imagery (MI) Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) coupled with a Haptic Knob (HK) robot for arm rehabilitation in stroke patients. In this three-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial; 21 chronic hemiplegic stroke patients (Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMMA) score 10–50), recruited after pre-screening for MI BCI ability, were randomly allocated to BCI-HK, HK or Standard Arm Therapy (SAT) groups. All groups received 18 sessions of intervention over 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 90 min per session. The BCI-HK group received 1 h of BCI coupled with HK intervention, and the HK group received 1 h of HK intervention per session. Both BCI-HK and HK groups received 120 trials of robot-assisted hand grasping and knob manipulation followed by 30 min of therapist-assisted arm mobilization. The SAT group received 1.5 h of therapist-assisted arm mobilization and forearm pronation-supination movements incorporating wrist control and grasp-release functions. In all, 14 males, 7 females, mean age 54.2 years, mean stroke duration 385.1 days, with baseline FMMA score 27.0 were recruited. The primary outcome measure was upper extremity FMMA scores measured mid-intervention at week 3, end-intervention at week 6, and follow-up at weeks 12 and 24. Seven, 8 and 7 subjects underwent BCI-HK, HK and SAT interventions respectively. FMMA score improved in all groups, but no intergroup differences were found at any time points. Significantly larger motor gains were observed in the BCI-HK group compared to the SAT group at weeks 3, 12, and 24, but motor gains in the HK group did not differ from the SAT group at any time point. In conclusion, BCI-HK is effective, safe, and may have the potential for enhancing motor recovery in chronic stroke when combined with therapist-assisted arm mobilization.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00024</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00024</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Acute human brain responses to intracortical microelectrode arrays: challenges and future prospects]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Hypothesis and Theory</category>
        <author>Eduardo Fernández</author><author>Bradley Greger</author><author>Paul A. House</author><author>Ignacio Aranda</author><author>Carlos Botella</author><author>Julio Albisua</author><author>Cristina Soto-Sánchez</author><author>Arantxa Alfaro</author><author>Richard A. Normann</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The emerging field of neuroprosthetics is focused on the development of new therapeutic interventions that will be able to restore some lost neural function by selective electrical stimulation or by harnessing activity recorded from populations of neurons. As more and more patients benefit from these approaches, the interest in neural interfaces has grown significantly and a new generation of penetrating microelectrode arrays are providing unprecedented access to the neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). These microelectrodes have active tip dimensions that are similar in size to neurons and because they penetrate the nervous system, they provide selective access to these cells (within a few microns). However, the very long-term viability of chronically implanted microelectrodes and the capability of recording the same spiking activity over long time periods still remain to be established and confirmed in human studies. Here we review the main responses to acute implantation of microelectrode arrays, and emphasize that it will become essential to control the neural tissue damage induced by these intracortical microelectrodes in order to achieve the high clinical potentials accompanying this technology.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00026</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00026</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Changes in functional brain organization and behavioral correlations after rehabilitative therapy using a brain-computer interface]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Brittany M. Young</author><author>Zack Nigogosyan</author><author>Léo M. Walton</author><author>Jie Song</author><author>Veena A. Nair</author><author>Scott W. Grogan</author><author>Mitchell E. Tyler</author><author>Dorothy F. Edwards</author><author>Kristin Caldera</author><author>Justin A. Sattin</author><author>Justin C. Williams</author><author>Vivek Prabhakaran</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study aims to examine the changes in task-related brain activity induced by rehabilitative therapy using brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies and whether these changes are relevant to functional gains achieved through the use of these therapies. Stroke patients with persistent upper-extremity motor deficits received interventional rehabilitation therapy using a closed-loop neurofeedback BCI device (n = 8) or no therapy (n = 6). Behavioral assessments using the Stroke Impact Scale, the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) as well as task-based fMRI scans were conducted before, during, after, and 1 month after therapy administration or at analogous intervals in the absence of therapy. Laterality Index (LI) values during finger tapping of each hand were calculated for each time point and assessed for correlation with behavioral outcomes. Brain activity during finger tapping of each hand shifted over the course of BCI therapy, but not in the absence of therapy, to greater involvement of the non-lesioned hemisphere (and lesser involvement of the stroke-lesioned hemisphere) as measured by LI. Moreover, changes from baseline LI values during finger tapping of the impaired hand were correlated with gains in both objective and subjective behavioral measures. These findings suggest that the administration of interventional BCI therapy can induce differential changes in brain activity patterns between the lesioned and non-lesioned hemispheres and that these brain changes are associated with changes in specific motor functions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00027</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00027</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Neuromodulation: present and emerging methods]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Song Luan</author><author>Ian Williams</author><author>Konstantin Nikolic</author><author>Timothy G. Constandinou</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Neuromodulation has wide ranging potential applications in replacing impaired neural function (prosthetics), as a novel form of medical treatment (therapy), and as a tool for investigating neurons and neural function (research). Voltage and current controlled electrical neural stimulation (ENS) are methods that have already been widely applied in both neuroscience and clinical practice for neuroprosthetics. However, there are numerous alternative methods of stimulating or inhibiting neurons. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in ENS as well as alternative neuromodulation techniques—presenting the operational concepts, technical implementation and limitations—in order to inform system design choices.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00028</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneng.2014.00028</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Reduced discomfort during high-definition transcutaneous stimulation using 6% benzocaine]]></title>
        <pubdate>2014-07-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Berkan Guleyupoglu</author><author>Nicole Febles</author><author>Preet Minhas</author><author>Christoph Hahn</author><author>Marom Bikson</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Background: High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) allows for non-invasive neuromodulation using an array of compact (approximately 1 cm2 contact area) “High-Definition” (HD) electrodes, as compared to conventional tDCS (which uses two large pads that are approximately 35 cm2). In a previous transcutaneous study, we developed and validated designs for HD electrodes that reduce discomfort over >20 min session with 2 mA electrode current.]]></description>
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