title: A bidirectional brain-machine interface connecting alert rodents to a dynamical system.
abstract: We present a novel experimental framework that implements a bidirectional brain-machine interface inspired by the operation of the spinal cord in vertebrates that generates a control policy in the form of a force field. The proposed experimental set-up allows connecting the brain of freely moving rats to an external device. We tested this apparatus in a preliminary experiment with an alert rat that used the interface for acquiring a food reward. The goal of this approach to bidirectional interfaces is to explore the role of voluntary neural commands in controlling a dynamical system represented by a small cart moving on vertical plane and connected to a water/pellet dispenser.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boi
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semprini
authors.forename: Ferdinando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Mussa Ivaldi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panzeri
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D004867:Equipment Design; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology