Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. EPFL thesis
  4. Neurotechnology for Brain Repair : Imaging, Enhancing and Restoring Human Motor Function
 
doctoral thesis

Neurotechnology for Brain Repair : Imaging, Enhancing and Restoring Human Motor Function

Biasiucci, Andrea  
2014

Neurotechnology is the application of scientific knowledge to the practical purpose of understanding, interacting and/or repairing the brain or, in a broader sense, the nervous system. The development of novel approaches to decode functional information from the brain, to enhance specific properties of neural tissue and to restore motor output in real end-users is a fundamental challenge to translate these novel solutions into clinical practice. In this Thesis, I introduce i) a novel imaging method to characterize movement-related electroencephalographic (EEG) potentials; ii) a brain stimulation strategy to improve brain-computer interface (BCI) control; iii) and a therapy for motor recovery involving a neuroprosthesis. Overall, results show i) that stable EEG topographies present a subject-independent organization that can be used to robustly decode actual or attempted movements in sub-acute stroke patients and healthy controls, with minimal a-priori information; ii) that transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) enhances the modulability of sensorimotor rhythms used for brain-computer interaction in chronic Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) individuals and healthy controls; iii) that neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) controlled via closed-loop neural activity induces significantly stronger upper limb functional recovery in chronic stroke patients than sham NMES therapy, and that these changes are clinically relevant. These results have or might have important implications in i) disease diagnostics and monitoring through EEG; ii) assistive technology and reduction of permanent disability following SCI; iii) rehabilitation and recovery of upper limb function following a stroke, also after several years of complete paralysis. Briefly, this Thesis provides the conceptual framework, scientific rationale, technical details and clinical evidence supporting translational Neurotechnology that improves, optimizes and disrupts current medical practice in monitoring, substituting and recovering lost upper limb function.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
doctoral thesis
DOI
10.5075/epfl-thesis-6397
Author(s)
Biasiucci, Andrea  
Advisors
Millán, José del R.  
•
Murray, Micah
Jury

Prof. H. Bleuler (président) ; Prof. J.D.R. Millán Ruiz, Prof. M. Murray (directeurs) ; Prof. O. Blanke, Prof. N.F. Ramsey, Prof. A. Schnider (rapporteurs)

Date Issued

2014

Publisher

EPFL

Publisher place

Lausanne

Public defense year

2014-12-05

Thesis number

6397

Subjects

neuroimaging

•

EEG topographic analysis

•

non invasive brain stimulation

•

transcranial direct current stimulation

•

neuroprosthetics

•

neuromuscular electrical stimulation

•

brain computer interfaces

EPFL units
CNP  
CNBI  
Faculty
STI  
School
IBI-STI  
Doctoral School
EDPR  
Available on Infoscience
December 2, 2014
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/109166
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés