Connecting the Brain to Itself through an Emulation.

Pilot clinical trials of human patients implanted with devices that can chronically record and stimulate ensembles of hundreds to thousands of individual neurons offer the possibility of expanding the substrate of cognition. Parallel trains of firing rate activity can be delivered in real-time to an array of intermediate external modules that in turn can trigger parallel trains of stimulation back into the brain. These modules may be built in software, VLSI firmware, or biological tissue as in vitro culture preparations or in vivo ectopic construct organoids. Arrays of modules can be constructed as early stage whole brain emulators, following canonical intra- and inter-regional circuits. By using machine learning algorithms and classic tasks known to activate quasi-orthogonal functional connectivity patterns, bedside testing can rapidly identify ensemble tuning properties and in turn cycle through a sequence of external module architectures to explore which can causatively alter perception and behavior. Whole brain emulation both (1) serves to augment human neural function, compensating for disease and injury as an auxiliary parallel system, and (2) has its independent operation bootstrapped by a human-in-the-loop to identify optimal micro- and macro-architectures, update synaptic weights, and entrain behaviors. In this manner, closed-loop brain-computer interface pilot clinical trials can advance strong artificial intelligence development and forge new therapies to restore independence in children and adults with neurological conditions

As we may think and be: Brain-computer interfaces to expand the substrate of mind

Over a half-century ago, the scientist Vannevar Bush explored the conundrum of how to tap the exponentially rising sea of human knowledge for the betterment of humanity. In his description of a hypothetical electronic library he dubbed the memex, he anticipated internet search and online encyclopedias (Bush, 1945). By blurring the boundary between brain and computer, brain-computer interfaces (BCI) could lead to more efficient use of electronic resources (Schalk, 2008). We could expand the substrate of the mind itself rather than merely interfacing it to external computers. Components of brain-computer interfaces could be re-arranged to create brain-brain interfaces, or tightly interconnected links between a person’s brain and ectopic neural modules. Such modules – whether sitting in a bubbling Petri dish, rendered in reciprocally linked integrated circuits, or implanted in our belly – would mark the first step on to a path of breaking out of the limitations imposed by our phylogenetic past Novel BCI architectures could generate novel abilities to navigate and access information that might speed translational science efforts and push the boundaries of human knowledge in an unprecedented manner

Neural Substrate Expansion for the Restoration of Brain Function

Restoring neurological and cognitive function in individuals who have suffered brain damage is one of the principal objectives of modern translational neuroscience. Electrical stimulation approaches, such as deep-brain stimulation, have achieved the most clinical success, but they ultimately may be limited by the computational capacity of the residual cerebral circuitry. An alternative strategy is brain substrate expansion, in which the computational capacity of the brain is augmented through the addition of new processing units and the reconstitution of network connectivity. This latter approach has been explored to some degree using both biological and electronic means but thus far has not demonstrated the ability to reestablish the function of large-scale neuronal networks. In this review, we contend that fulfilling the potential of brain substrate expansion will require a significant shift from current methods that emphasize direct manipulations of the brain (e.g., injections of cellular suspensions and the implantation of multi-electrode arrays) to the generation of more sophisticated neural tissues and neural-electric hybrids in vitro that are subsequently transplanted into the brain. Drawing from neural tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and neural interface technologies, this strategy makes greater use of the manifold techniques available in the laboratory to create biocompatible constructs that recapitulate brain architecture and thus are more easily recognized and utilized by brain networks

Factores de la personalidad y su relación con el uso de videojuegos

Si bien la relación entre la personalidad y el uso de videojuegos ha sido abordada desde diferentes enfoques, en los últimos años numerosos trabajos se han centrado en el estudio de la Personalidad a partir del Modelo de los Cinco Factores. Sin  embargo, no se han relevado estudios que se propongan una revisión sistemática de la literatura especializada. El propósito del presente trabajo consiste en realizar una búsqueda bibliográfica en bases de datos como scielo, latindex, redalyc o EBSCO de trabajos que exploren la relación entre los cinco factores de la personalidad y los diferentes usos de videojuegos. De acuerdo con los resultados, los estudios que evalúan la personalidad a partir del FFM han encontrado relaciones a (1) el uso de los VJ online (2) el uso problemático de VJ online y (3), el uso de videojuegos violentos. Sin embargo, las diferentes formas de evaluar el uso de videojuegos complejizan la posibilidad de comparar los resultados.  Se recomienda que futuros estudios se enfoquen en la evaluación del construct

Maternal and perinatal health research priorities beyond 2015 : an international survey and prioritization exercise

Background: Maternal mortality has declined by nearly half since 1990, but over a quarter million women still die every year of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal-health related targets are falling short of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals and a post-2015 Development Agenda is emerging. In connection with this, setting global research priorities for the next decade is now required. Methods. We adapted the methods of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) to identify and set global research priorities for maternal and perinatal health for the period 2015 to 2025. Priority research questions were received from various international stakeholders constituting a large reference group, and consolidated into a final list of research questions by a technical working group. Questions on this list were then scored by the reference working group according to five independent and equally weighted criteria. Normalized research priority scores (NRPS) were calculated, and research priority questions were ranked accordingly. Results: A list of 190 priority research questions for improving maternal and perinatal health was scored by 140 stakeholders. Most priority research questions (89%) were concerned with the evaluation of implementation and delivery of existing interventions, with research subthemes frequently concerned with training and/or awareness interventions (11%), and access to interventions and/or services (14%). Twenty-one questions (11%) involved the discovery of new interventions or technologies. Conclusions: Key research priorities in maternal and perinatal health were identified. The resulting ranked list of research questions provides a valuable resource for health research investors, researchers and other stakeholders. We are hopeful that this exercise will inform the post-2015 Development Agenda and assist donors, research-policy decision makers and researchers to invest in research that will ultimately make the most significant difference in the lives of mothers and babies.</p

A simulation study on the effects of neuronal ensemble properties on decoding algorithms for intracortical brain-machine interfaces

Background: Intracortical brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) harness movement information by sensing neuronal activities using chronic microelectrode implants to restore lost functions to patients with paralysis. However, neuronal signals often vary over time, even within a day, forcing one to rebuild a BMI every time they operate it. The term &quot;rebuild&quot; means overall procedures for operating a BMI, such as decoder selection, decoder training, and decoder testing. It gives rise to a practical issue of what decoder should be built for a given neuronal ensemble. This study aims to address it by exploring how decoders&apos; performance varies with the neuronal properties. To extensively explore a range of neuronal properties, we conduct a simulation study. Methods: Focusing on movement direction, we examine several basic neuronal properties, including the signal-to-noise ratio of neurons, the proportion of well-tuned neurons, the uniformity of their preferred directions (PDs), and the non-stationarity of PDs. We investigate the performance of three popular BMI decoders: Kalman filter, optimal linear estimator, and population vector algorithm. Results: Our simulation results showed that decoding performance of all the decoders was affected more by the proportion of well-tuned neurons that their uniformity. Conclusions: Our study suggests a simulated scenario of how to choose a decoder for intracortical BMIs in various neuronal conditions

Abordaje psicoterapéutico de un caso de trauma complejo

El presente trabajo expone el tratamiento psicológico desarrollado con un paciente de 29 años, cuyo motivo de consulta es la presencia de ansiedad, manifestando intensas náuseas en situaciones sociales. Se sigue el enfoque de la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso. El paciente cumple los criterios diagnóstico de trastorno de ansiedad social. Como punto clave para la intervención, se destaca la elaboración del análisis funcional, a partir del cual se establecen los objetivos. Dichos objetivos son: mejorar el manejo de la ansiedad; aumentar la identificación, expresión y regulación emocional; flexibilizar su repertorio conductual, mejorar su autoconcepto y entrenar su capacidad asertiva. El tratamiento aquí expuesto consta de las 10 sesiones iniciales, siguiendo aún en curso. Se han observado avances como: disminución de la ansiedad y de la frecuencia de las náuseas, menos anticipación y mayor atención al momento presente, mejor autoconcepto y un repertorio conductual más amplio y flexible. Estos logros van en la línea de lo señalado en estudios publicados.Universidad Europea de MadridMáster Universitario en Psicología General SanitariaPresencia

Justiça de transição na Colômbia : uma análise do acordo de vítimas e justiça

Trabalho de conclusão de curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Direito, Curso de Graduação em Direito, 2016.A Colômbia enfrentou nesses últimos cinquenta anos o maior e mais importante conflito armado da região na atualidade, buscando entre 2012 e 2016 negociar a paz com as Forças Armadas Revolucionárias da Colômbia – Exército do Povo através dos Diálogos de Paz de Havana. As negociações deram origem ao Acordo de Vítimas e Justiça, importante parte do Acordo Final, que propôs uma jurisdição especial para julgar crimes cometidos em virtude do conflito; mecanismos de não-repetição; instrumentos de reparação para as vítimas e conciliação da sociedade. O presente trabalho busca analisar o Acordo de Vítimas e Justiça baseado no histórico colombiano e nos preceitos da Justiça de Transição. Para esse objetivo o histórico do campo e seus quatro pilares - Justiça; Reparação; Verdade e Memória; Reformas institucionais e Mecanismos de Não-Repetição serão apreciados. Pretende-se demonstrar através dessa análise que o campo da Justiça de Transição oferece ensinamentos valiosos para a construção da paz na Colômbia nessa etapa de transição entre um período de violência normalizada para paz.Through the past fifty years Colombia has faced the current longest and most important armed conflict in Latin America, attempting to negotiate peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army through the Havana Peace Talks, that took place between 2012 and 2016. The negotiations achieved the Victim’s and Justice Treaty in 2015, important part of the Final Treaty, that proposed a Special Jurisdiction to judge crimes committed due to the conflict; non repetition mechanisms; reparations to victims and reconcilement for the population. This paper analyses the Victim’s and Justice Treaty based on the conflict’s history and the norms of Transitional Justice. For this purpose the background of the field and the four pillars of Transitional Justice – Justice; Reparation, Truth-Seeking and Memory and Institutional Reforms will be studied. By doing this analysis the aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the field of Transitional Justice offers valuable lessons for the peace building in Colombia during this time of transition to peace from a institutionalized period of violence