Garauv Sharma. Garauv won the 2016 BCI Award for real-time cortical control of functional wrist and finger movements in a human with quadriplegia. Gaurav currently works as a Senior Research Scientist at Battelle Memorial Institute in Ohio. Gaurav holds the lead role on the NeuroLife Program at Battelle where they created a chip that allows patients with paralysis to perform specific movements with their own thoughts using NeuroLife’s non-invasive, high-definition neuromuscular electrical stimulation.
Top 3 Takeaways.
- Multi-disciplinary backgrounds will help bring new ideas to traditional methods of studying the human brain.
- Differences in functionality between the upper and lower limbs make it difficult to create a universal motion restoration technology.
- In the near future, brain-computer interface (BCI) will be capable of enhancing brain plasticity and boost cognitive skills to help humans learn faster.
Show Notes.
- [0:50] Initial Spark in Neuroscience and Medicine coming from an Engineering background.
- [4:38] Start at Battelle and the jump to working with the brain through Nanotechnology.
- [5:24] Gaurav’s thoughts on the importance of a multi-disciplinary background when studying the brain.
- [6:32] Gaurav details the mechanisms used in his research of Real Time Cortical Control that contributed to the success of his team at the BCI Awards.
- [7:40] A walk through of the 3 components of the device used for patients with quadriplegia.
- [9:01] Gaurav compares how technology use differs between the upper-half of the body versus the lower-half of the body.
- [11:58] The role that plasticity played in BCI integration with Gaurav’s patients.
- [14:00] How using BCI with plasticity goes beyond regaining lost function to potentially enhance cognitive skills.
- [15:28] The future of FDA approval for implantable BCI devices.
- [17:42] Nano-delivery of drugs to the brain and how BCI technology impacts the efficacy of pharmaceuticals.
- [19:49] Favorite Neuroscience or Neuro-Technology related book.
Selected Links.
- Gaurav Sharma’s Professional Profile
- Indwelling Neural Implants: Strategies for Contending with the In Vivo Environment
- Breakdown of Brain Plasticity
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