2 research outputs found
Algorithms for Neural Prosthetic Applications
abstract: In the last 15 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of motor neural prostheses used for restoring limb function lost due to neurological disorders or accidents. The aim of this technology is to enable patients to control a motor prosthesis using their residual neural pathways (central or peripheral). Recent studies in non-human primates and humans have shown the possibility of controlling a prosthesis for accomplishing varied tasks such as self-feeding, typing, reaching, grasping, and performing fine dexterous movements. A neural decoding system comprises mainly of three components: (i) sensors to record neural signals, (ii) an algorithm to map neural recordings to upper limb kinematics and (iii) a prosthetic arm actuated by control signals generated by the algorithm. Machine learning algorithms that map input neural activity to the output kinematics (like finger trajectory) form the core of the neural decoding system. The choice of the algorithm is thus, mainly imposed by the neural signal of interest and the output parameter being decoded. The various parts of a neural decoding system are neural data, feature extraction, feature selection, and machine learning algorithm. There have been significant advances in the field of neural prosthetic applications. But there are challenges for translating a neural prosthesis from a laboratory setting to a clinical environment. To achieve a fully functional prosthetic device with maximum user compliance and acceptance, these factors need to be addressed and taken into consideration. Three challenges in developing robust neural decoding systems were addressed by exploring neural variability in the peripheral nervous system for dexterous finger movements, feature selection methods based on clinically relevant metrics and a novel method for decoding dexterous finger movements based on ensemble methods.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Bioengineering 201
De animais a máquinas : humanos tecnicamente melhores nos imaginários de futuro da convergência tecnológica
Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Departamento de Sociologia, 2020.O tema desta investigação é discutir os imaginários sociais de ciência e tecnologia que emergem
a partir da área da neuroengenharia, em sua relação com a Convergência Tecnológica de quatro
disciplinas: Nanotecnologia, Biotecnologia, tecnologias da Informação e tecnologias Cognitivas -
neurociências- (CT-NBIC). Estas áreas desenvolvem-se e são articuladas por meio de discursos
que ressaltam o aprimoramento das capacidades físicas e cognitivas dos seres humanos, com
o intuito de construir uma sociedade melhor por meio do progresso científico e tecnológico, nos
limites das agendas de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D).
Objetivos:
Os objetivos nesse cenário, são discutir as implicações éticas, econômicas, políticas e sociais
deste modelo de sistema sociotécnico. Nos referimos, tanto as aplicações tecnológicas, quanto
as consequências das mesmas na formação dos imaginários sociais, que tipo de relações se
estabelecem e como são criadas dentro desse contexto.
Conclusão:
Concluímos na busca por refletir criticamente sobre as propostas de aprimoramento humano
mediado pela tecnologia, que surgem enquanto parte da agenda da Convergência Tecnológica
NBIC. No entanto, as propostas de melhoramento humano vão muito além de uma agenda de
investigação. Há todo um quadro de referências filosóficas e políticas que defendem o
aprimoramento da espécie, vertentes estas que se aliam a movimentos trans-humanistas e pós-
humanistas, posições que são ao mesmo tempo éticas, políticas e econômicas. A partir de nossa
análise, entendemos que ciência, tecnologia e política estão articuladas, em coprodução, em
relação às expectativas de futuros que são esperados ou desejados. Ainda assim, acreditamos
que há um espaço de diálogo possível, a partir do qual buscamos abrir propostas para o debate
público sobre questões de ciência e tecnologia relacionadas ao aprimoramento da espécie
humana.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The subject of this research is to discuss the social imaginaries of science and technology that
emerge from the area of neuroengineering in relation with the Technological Convergence of four
disciplines: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technologies and Cognitive technologies
-neurosciences- (CT-NBIC). These areas are developed and articulated through discourses that
emphasize the enhancement of human physical and cognitive capacities, the intuition it is to build
a better society, through the scientific and technological progress, at the limits of the research
and development (R&D) agendas.
Objectives:
The objective in this scenery, is to discuss the ethic, economic, politic and social implications of
this model of sociotechnical system. We refer about the technological applications and the
consequences of them in the formation of social imaginaries as well as the kind of social relations
that are created and established in this context.
Conclusion:
We conclude looking for critical reflections about the proposals of human enhancement mediated
by the technology. That appear as a part of the NBIC technologies agenda. Even so, the
proposals of human enhancement go beyond boundaries that an investigation agenda. There is
a frame of philosophical and political references that defend the enhancement of the human
beings. These currents that ally to the transhumanism and posthumanism movements, positions
that are ethic, politic and economic at the same time. From our analysis, we understand that
science, technology and politics are articulated, are in co-production, regarding the expected and
desired futures. Even so, we believe that there is a space of possible dialog, from which we look
to open proposals for the public discussion on questions of science and technology related to
enhancement of human beings