Neuroengineering: Auditory and Vestibular Neuroprostheses

In course

This course integrates knowledge in basic, systems, clinical and computational neuroscience, and engineering with the goal of translating this integrated knowledge into the development of novel methods, technology for the clinical application for patients ...

Description

This lecture discusses the principles and applications of auditory and vestibular neuroprostheses, focusing on the auditory brainstem implant (ABI) and vestibular prosthesis technologies. The instructor explains the challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss due to conditions like neurofibromatosis type 2, emphasizing the role of ABI in restoring sound awareness and improving lip reading. The lecture covers the surgical techniques involved in ABI placement and the performance outcomes from clinical trials. The discussion then shifts to vestibular functions, detailing the anatomy and mechanics of the vestibular system, including semicircular canals and otolith organs. The instructor highlights the vestibular ocular reflex and vestibulospinal reflex, which are crucial for maintaining balance and posture. The concept of sensory substitution is introduced, showcasing innovative approaches like the BrainPort system, which transforms sensory information into electrical stimulation. The lecture concludes with insights into the development of vestibular prostheses and their potential to enhance quality of life for individuals with vestibular disorders.

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Instructors (4)

Silvestro Micera

Grégoire Courtine

Grégoire Courtine was originally trained in Mathematics and Physics, but received his PhD degree in Experimental Medicine from the University of Pavia, Italy, and the INSERM Plasticity and Motricity, in France, in 2003. From 2004-2007, he held a Post-doctoral Fellow position at the Brain Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) under the supervision of Dr. Reggie Edgerton, and was a research associate for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF). In 2008, he became Assistant Professor at the faculty of Medicine of the University of Zurich where he established his own research laboratory. In 2012, he was nominated Associate Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) where he holds the International paraplegic foundation (IRP) chair in spinal cord repair at the Center for Neuroprosthetics and the Brain Mind Institute. He published several articles proposing radically new approaches for restoring function after spinal cord injury, which were discussed in national and international press extensively. He received numerous honors and awards such as the 2007 UCLA Chancellors award for excellence in post-doctoral research and the 2009 Schellenberg Prize for his innovative research in spinal cord injury awarded by the International Foundation of Research in Paraplegia.

Olaf Blanke

Friedhelm Christoph Hummel

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