Interesting Brain Scanning/Stimulating Backpack Allows Mobile Brain Studies

In summary, a new technology has been developed that allows for monitoring outside of labs through a brain implant. The setup involves a wand connected to a backpack filled with monitors, as well as additional gear for measuring brain and body activities. All of this information can be synchronized with signals from the implant. This technology has been described as reminiscent of the Borg and has been published in the journal Neuron.
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BillTre
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TL;DR Summary
A backpack set-up allows brain scanning and stimulation of mobile subjects.
This new technology will make monitoring outside of labs possible.
It requires a brain implant.

Here’s how it works: A wand snakes up out of a 4-kilogram backpack to rest near the top of the patient’s scalp. There, the wand can communicate with a neural implant that lies deep in the brain. Meanwhile, the backpack is filled with monitors—a setup that allows for real-time data collection from the implant. At the same time, depending on the experiment, the participant can wear additional gear for measuring brain and body activities, including a scalp electroencephalography cap with electrodes that monitor surface brain activity, a pair of virtual reality goggles that track eye movement, and other devices that track heart and breathing rates. All of this information can then be synchronized with signals from the implant.

Screen Shot 2020-09-19 at 5.11.37 PM.png


Kind of reminds me of the Borg.
Screen Shot 2020-09-19 at 5.14.52 PM.png
 
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Biology news on Phys.org
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Wireless Programmable Recording and Stimulation of Deep Brain Activity in Freely Moving Humans.
Topalovic U, Aghajan ZM, Villaroman D, Hiller S, Christov-Moore L, Wishard TJ, Stangl M, Hasulak NR, Inman CS, Fields TA, Rao VR, Eliashiv D, Fried I, Suthana N.
Neuron. 2020 Sep 15:S0896-6273(20)30652-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.08.021. Online ahead of print.
PMID: 32946744
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32946744/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2020.08.021

Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.12.946434v1
 
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Interesting, especially that it uses a Raspberry Pi for local intelligence.
 
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1. How does the brain scanning/stimulating backpack work?

The backpack uses non-invasive techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to scan and stimulate the brain. The fMRI measures changes in blood flow to different areas of the brain, while TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate specific regions.

2. What are the benefits of a mobile brain scanning/stimulating backpack?

The backpack allows for brain studies to be conducted in real-world settings, providing more accurate and natural results compared to traditional lab studies. It also allows for a larger and more diverse sample size as participants can be studied in their own environment.

3. Is the backpack safe to use?

Yes, the backpack uses non-invasive techniques and is safe for use on healthy individuals. However, as with any medical equipment, it is important for trained professionals to operate the backpack to ensure proper usage and safety protocols.

4. Can the backpack be used for medical purposes?

Yes, the backpack has the potential to be used for medical purposes such as diagnosing and treating brain disorders. It can also aid in the development of personalized treatments for individuals with neurological conditions.

5. How accurate are the results from the backpack compared to traditional brain studies?

The results from the backpack have been found to be comparable to traditional brain studies conducted in a laboratory setting. However, the ability to conduct studies in real-world environments may provide more accurate and natural results. Further research is needed to fully assess the accuracy of the backpack's results.

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