Utrecht-BCI lab: developing neurotechnology for people with motor impairments
Brain Computer Interface, BCI, brain implant
Research aim
The motive of the lab is to elucidate the neuronal mechanisms underlying human brain function in health, in order to help patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders, with a focus on neurotechnologies, such as Brain-Computer Interfaces.
About us
We aim to understand the relationship between electrical, metabolic, cerebrovascular and neurochemical processes of neuronal populations on the one hand, and normal and abnormal behavior on the other hand. To that end, we focus both on methodology, application in brain imaging research and on the development of neurotechnology such as Brain-Computer Interfaces.
We currently have a couple of ongoing studies with a chronically implanted Brain-Computer Interface. With a Brain-Computer interface, participants can communicate at home with their family and caregivers. Participants suffer from the Locked-in Syndrome and are no longer able to move and speak. Doctors place electrodes in the brains of participants, and the electrodes pick up brain activity. This enables participants to wirelessly control a computer that they use at home. That patients use this technique at home is unique in the world.
We have projects in which we work with the Johns Hopkins University in the US, and we have projects where we work with European partners such as Graz University of Technology and MedTech companies and organizations such as CorTec and the Wyss Center.
We prioritize understanding patients’ viewpoints throughout our research process. We actively seek input from patient organizations to enhance our understanding of what improvements would be most beneficial for the health and well-being who suffer from the Locked-in syndrome.