Renowned neuroengineer to lecture on brain-machine interaction.
Dr. Miguel Nicolelis of Duke University will speak Oct. 7 on “Beyond Boundaries: The New Neuroscience of Connecting the Brain with Machines – and How It Will Change Our Lives” as part of the Ralph Gerard Lectureship Series, sponsored by UCI’s School of Biological Sciences.
A professor of neurobiology, biomedical engineering, and psychological & brain sciences, Nicolelis will review recent experiments demonstrating the possibility of using real-time models to probe how neurons analyze motor information. This work has revealed that brain-machine interfaces can be used as models to design and test modern neuroprosthetic devices. He will discuss evidence that a robotic arm may trigger significant changes in neurons in multiple brain areas, raising the possibility that the behaviors of a robot arm or any other tool could be “learned” as if they were simple extensions of the body.
The Ralph Gerard Lectureship Series was established in 1977 in recognition of Dr. Ralph Gerard, a UCI biological sciences professor who retired in 1970. He believed computers could improve the administrative and educational aspects of a university. Based on his ideas, a program in information & computer sciences was created at UCI.
10/07/2010
Arnold & Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences & Engineering, 100 Academy Way, Irvine (bldg. 80, grid C4 on campus map)
07:00 p.m.