Browsing Category: Brain

Apple partners with UCLA, Biogen for iPhone mental/cognitive health monitoring

The Apple/UCLA project “Seabreeze” and Apple/Biogen project “Pi” represent a further move into iPhone health monitoring. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is attempting to develop an algorithm to identify depression and cognitive decline from sleep patterns, mobility, and how one uses the phone — for example, how often they look at its clock. […]

Nurmikko’s Neurograins can enable unprecedented brain signal recording detail, new therapies

Arto Nurmikko and Brown colleagues have developed BCI system which employs a coordinated network of independent, wireless microscale neural sensors, to record and stimulate brain activity. “Neurograins” independently record electrical pulses made by firing neurons and send the signals wirelessly to a central hub, which coordinates and processes the signals. In a recent Nature paper, […]

Polymer improves medical implants, could enable brain-computer interface

David Martin and University of Delaware colleagues have developed a bio-synthetic coating for electronic components that could avoid the scarring (and signal disruption) caused by traditional microelectric materials. The PEDOT polymer improved the performance of medical implants by reducing their opposition to an electric current. Pedot film was used with an antibody to stimulate blood […]

Sensor platform detects dopamine in sweat; could be used for future treatment

Penn State’s Aida Ebrahimi and Maurico Terrones, RPI’s Humberto Terrones, and colleagues, have developed a highly sensitive, non-invasive wearable Dopamine sensor platform. The goal is the use of the technology to develop wearable sensors able to track and eventually treat conditions caused by too much (ie schizophrenia) or too little (ie Parkinson’s, depression) dopamine. The […]

Brain cholesterol map could lead to neurodegeneration therapies, help guide surgery

William Griffiths and Swansea University colleagues have developed a method to map cholesterol in the brain, and understand potential molecule conversion. This is the first technology that can map cholesterol metabolism in defined locations at microscopic levels, and visualize how it changes in pathological niches in the brain. While only studied on mice, the hope […]

Tattoo electrodes for long-term EEG, MEG measurements

Graz University professor Francesco Greco has built on his earlier work to create advanced inkjet printed conductive polymer electrodes on tattoo paper. The composition and thickness of the transfer paper and conductive polymer have been optimized to achieve a better electrode/skin connection and improve EEG signal quality. The cheap, user-friendly, dry electrodes have shown similar […]

Sniff test predicts consciousness recovery

Cambridge scientist Anat Arzi and Yaron Sacher of Israel’s Beit Lowenstein Rehabilitation Center have developed a simple olfactory consciousness test. In a study, 43 unconscious brain-injured pateients were presented with jars containing various smells under their noses. Scents included pleasant shampoo, unpleasant rotten fish, and no odor. Scientists measured the volume of air inhaled through […]

Directional DBS system targets GPi to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms

Abbott received FDA approval for an expanded indication for its Deep Brain Stimulation system, to include targeting of internal globus pallidus. The GPi plays an integral role in motor function. When targeted with DBS, Parkonson’s symptoms not adequately controlled by medication can improve. The directed stimulation system is now approved for all major targets used […]