The Brain-machine Interface
By Jeff Hansen from UAB The Mix
On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, God reaches out to touch Adam. The eye locks on the small gap between their index fingers, a slice of space dividing the ethereal from man.
A similar gap challenges researchers who work with paralyzed or handicapped patients — how to synch the human brain with a machine or computer.
Surprising breakthroughs from decades of basic science were featured at the recent, all-day 2015 Bevill Neuroscience Symposium — “Brain-Machine Interface” at UAB, which drew 200 attendees.
The most vivid example was Jan Scheuermann, a quadriplegic from Pittsburgh. Surgeons cut through her skull in 2012 READ MORE…
Neuroscientists identify new ways brain areas communicate
Source: Carnegie Mellon University via Science Daily
Neuroscientists have identified a new pathway by which several brain areas communicate within the brain’s striatum. The findings illustrate structural and functional connections that allow the brain to use reinforcement learning to make spatial decisions. Knowing how these specific pathways work together provides crucial insight into how learning occurs. It also could lead to improved treatments for Parkinson’s disease. READ MORE..
Save the Date! Taste for a Cure 2015
Just a reminder to save the date Birmingham! Our annual “Taste for a Cure” fundraising event is Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 PM. Join us at Old Car Heaven for another great evening of unique food, beer, and wine pairings conceived and prepared by an all-star team of local chefs including Chris Hastings. We’ll top off the evening with live and silent auctions so stay tuned for more details on this can’t miss event that benefits Parkinson disease research programs.
Options to purchase tickets online will be available soon. Please check the website again soon for information on purchasing tickets or follow-us on Facebook and Twitter. If you’d like to be a sponsor for this event, contact Mary T Miller at maryt@parkinsonalabama.org for more information.