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NSF Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering
File:Logo of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering.png
FoundersYoky Matsuoka (Former PI), Thomas Daniel (Current PI), Kee Moon, Joel Voldman[1]
Established (2011-08-15) August 15, 2011 (age 13)[1]
Location
Seattle
,
Washington
,
 United States[2]
Websitehttp://www.csne-erc.org/contact

The Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE) is a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center founded to facilitate research into how the human brain collects and responds to environmental stimuli[3]. The National Science Foundation awarded the CSNE with a $3 million grant in 2011 effectively beginning the program[1]. The CSNE is currently housed in the University of Washington's Russell Hall[2]. However, the CSNE is composed of faculty from multiple universities[4]. These faculty specialize in fields including: biological and traditional engineering, computer science, and neurobiology[4]. Additionally, the CSNE includes faculty from various fields of medicine who assist with real-world implementation of designs[4]. The CSNE places a strong emphasis on bioethics[4].

Mission

The CSNE's main purpose is to reverse engineer the mechanisms behind the brain's sensory and computational processes[5]. The results of these studies can then be used to design systems that allow for robust communication between humans and computers or other devices[5].

Scientific Objectives

Thrusts

In order to better direct research, the CSNE has identified three directives known internally as "thrusts"[6]. The thrusts are designed to work autonomously. However, because of overlap between the thrusts, they also build upon one another[6] .

Thrust 1: Communication and Interface

The Communication and Interface thrust is largely concerned with developing more intelligent ways of extracting information from the brain[7]. The objective of developing these intelligent systems is to use less power to compute faster, and, potentially, harvest their power through innovative sources[7] . At the same time, these systems must be user-friendly. In other words, they must be easy to use and reliable in mechanical design and computation functions.

Thrust 2: Reverse and Forward Engineering

The object of Thrust 2 is to reverse engineer the computational activities of the brain so that these activities can be understood and implemented in other systems[8] . Using this knowledge, inorganic systems can be forward engineered to work with the brain using the brain's own system of computation[8] .

Thrust 3: Control and Adaptation

The Control and Adaptation Thrust specializes in creating interfaces that have the ability to "learn" from past inputs[9]. The benefits of these systems is that they do not require intervention from outside the user-device system to adapt to new phenomena[9] . Therefore, instead of reprogramming devices to understand new phenomena, devices would be programmed to change, on their own, according to different conditions.

Testbeds

The CSNE groups its technologies into three testbeds[10].

1. Sensorimotor Assistance

This testbed includes devices that are aimed at providing prostheses using neural control[10]. These prostheses are assumed to be active only when attached to the body.

2. Diagnostic and Rehabilitation

This testbed focuses on sensing conditions in the brain indicative of disorders[10]. Additionally, the testbed looks to rehabilitate patients already diagnosed with these disorders[10].

3. Remote System

This testbed differs from Sensorimotor Assistance in two areas. Firstly, while Sensorimotor Assistance devices are "parts of the body," Remote Systems devices are separate[10] . That is, while Sensorimotor Assistance devices might include prosthetic arms, Remote Systems devices would include robots that help in treating disease (possibly by acting in place of prostheses)[10]. Secondly, Remote Systems can be used in non-medical applications such as neurally controlling robots used in rescue missions[10].

Educational Objectives

The CSNE places emphasis on more than completing research; it also emphasizes educating the next generation of researchers. While this includes traditional programs at the graduate level, the CSNE participates in programs designed to educate undergraduates, K-12 students, and K-12 teachers. The CSNE uses these programs to encourage diversity and inclusion of minorities and persons with disabilities[11]. The CSNE operates as a host site for the NSF programs: Research Experiences for Undergraduatesand Research Experiences for Teachers.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates(REU)

As a host site for NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), the CSNE hosts ten students from across the United States for ten weeks during the summer beginning in 2012. Beside conducting research in CSNE labs, REU students listen to lectures from leaders in the field[12] .

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

Similar to the NSF REU program, the RET program places teachers in CSNE labs. As of 2012, two teachers were involved in the RET summer program.

Young Scholars Program (YSP)

The Young Scholars Program is a summer program designed to give high school students the opportunity to conduct research in an academic laboratory setting before entering college. During the summer of 2012, the CSNE hosted 4 YSP students.

Undergraduate Curriculum

The CSNE is currently developing new undergraduate curriculum for the University of Washington that includes a minor in Neural Engineering, two new undergraduate courses, and a possible double major[12] . Materials from these courses will be disseminated to partner institutions[12] .

Graduate Curriculum

The CSNE is also developing new curriculum for a graduate certificate that includes two new courses[13]. In addition, the CSNE supports exchange students so as to engender an international spirit of collaboration within the field[13] .

Organization

In attempting to combine the worlds of industry, medicine, research, science, ethics, and education, the CSNE has a broad range of goals. In order to ensure that these diverse goals are all met, the CSNE is organized into multiple advisory boards.

Advisory Boards

1. Scientific Advisory Board: Acting as the scientific council, the Scientific Advisory Board focuses on ensuring that continual progress is made in developing new technology that can advance the objectives of the CSNE[14].

2. Industry Advisory Board: The Industry Advisory board helps develop successful business plans for products developed at the CSNE[14]. This board also builds relationships with potential corporate partners.

3. Practitioner Advisory Board: This board consists of healthcare professionals who advise researchers on how to develop technologies that are friendly in a clinical setting[14].

4. User Advisory Board: The User Advisory Board is a group comprised of medical patients with disorders pertinent to the work performed at the CSNE. Like the Practitioner Advisory Board, the User Advisory Board looks to connect the laboratory ideal of how products should function with the clinical ideal[14].

5. Council of Deans: This council, composed of all deans from participating institutions and departments, is charged with recruiting appropriate faculty and students for the CSNE as well as promoting the CSNE in their spheres of influence[14].

6. Student Leadership Council: Education focused, the Student Leadership council looks to advance the goals of the CSNE by recruiting student ambassadors at partner institutions[14]. In addition, the Student Leadership Council looks to engender scientific interest in middle and high school students by designing innovative educational experiences [14].

Academic Partners

See also

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References

  1. ^ a b c "Award Abstract #1028725". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Contact". NSF ERC/NSE. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Welcome to the CSNE". NSF Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "People". NSF ERC/NSE. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Vision and Mission". NSF ERC/NSE. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Thrusts". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Thrust 1: Communication and Interface". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Thrust 2: Reverse and Forward Engineering". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Thrust 3: Control and Adaptation". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Testbeds". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  11. ^ "k12 Education". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Undergraduate Programs". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Graduate Programs". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Advisory Boards". NSF ERC/SNE. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
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