Real-time control of a robot arm using simultaneously recorded neurons in the motor cortex.
To determine whether simultaneously recorded motor cortex neurons can be used for real-time device control, rats were trained to position a robot arm to obtain water by pressing a lever. Mathematical transformations, including neural networks, converted multineuron signals into 'neuronal population functions' that accurately predicted lever trajectory. Next, these functions were electronically converted into real-time signals for robot arm control. After switching to this 'neurorobotic' mode, 4 of 6 animals (those with > 25 task-related neurons) routinely used these brain-derived signals to position the robot arm and obtain water. With continued training in neurorobotic mode, the animals' lever movement diminished or stopped. These results suggest a possible means for movement restoration in paralysis patients.
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA. chapinj@mcphu.edu
J K
JK
Chapin
K A
KA
Moxon
R S
RS
Markowitz
M A
MA
Nicolelis
D000818:Animals; D001132:Arm; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D003199:Computer Systems; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation; D009043:Motor Activity; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012371:Robotics; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology