Stanford Engineering
Robust Systems Group (RSG)

"Programming" the Brain

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Overview

We are developing next-generation brain computer interfaces that:

  1. Record large, high-density, brain cell populations and further our understanding of how the brain encodes information at the cellular level, known as the neural code.
  2. Mimic the neural code by selectively stimulating individual brain cells to remedy various medical conditions such as blindness, epilepsy, and mental disorders.

Programming the brain is the intersection of neuroscience, electrophysiology and biophysics for cell-specific stimulation, algorithm design for emulating the neural code, and hardware-software co-design for a full BCI system. Currently, all work is in collaboration with the Stanford Artificial Retina Project spear-headed by the Chichilnisky Lab, focused on creating a retinal prosthesis. 

Related Publications

  1. R. Vilkhu, S. Madugula, L. Grosberg, A. Gogliettino, P. Hottowy, W. Dabrowski, A. Sher, A.M. Litke, S. Mitra, E.J. Chichilnisky, "Spatially patterned bi-electrode epiretinal stimulation for axon avoidance at cellular resolution," Journal of Neural Engineering, November 2021
  2. D. Muratore, P. Tandon, M. Wootters, E.J. Chichilnisky, S. Mitra and B. Murmann, “A Data-Compressive Wired-OR Readout for Massively Parallel Neural Recording,” IEEE Trans. Biomedical Circuits and Systems, Special Issue on IEEE Intl. Symp. Circuits and Systems, June 2019.
  3. N.P. Shah, S. Madugula, L. Grosberg, G. Mena, P. Tandon, P. Hottowy, A. Sher, A.M. Litke, S. Mitra and E.J. Chichilnisky, “Optimization of Electrical Stimulation for a High-Fidelity Artificial Retina,” IEEE EMBS Conf. Neural Engineering, San Francisco, CA, March 2019.
  4. L. Grosberg, K. Ganesan, G. Goetz, S. Madugula, N. Bhaskhar, V. Fan, P. Li, P. Hottowy, W. Dabrowski, A. Sher, A. Litke, S. Mitra and E.J. Chichilnisky, “Activation of Ganglion Cells and Axon Bundles using Epiretinal Electrical Stimulation,” Journal of Neurophysiology, 2017 (Selected for APSselect).

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