Thesis Project Form
Title (tentative): Searching for privileged windows of neural plasticity for motor rehabilitation| Thesis advisor(s): Chiappalone Michela, Vinicius Rosa Cota (IIT - vinicius.rosacota@iit.it) | E-mail: |
| Address: Via Opera Pia 13, 16145 Genova | Phone: |
Description
Motivation and application domain
Neural plasticity is a ubiquitous neurobiological phenomenon permeating myriad brain phenomena, such as acquisition of motor skills in homeostasis or during rehabilitation after brain injury. It manifests itself in different brain-organization scales, including neural networks producing stereotyped electrophysiological signatures, such as cortico-thalamic spindles and hippocampal ripples. The goal of this project is two-fold: 1) to better understand the relationship between electrophysiological parameters and neurobiological factors underlying neural plasticity in both health and disease and; 2) to identify temporal and spatial patterns of neural activity that may represent privileged windows of plasticity for delivery of therapeutic technological intervention.
General objectives and main activities
This thesis falls within the multidisciplinary domains of neurophysiological signal processing, neuromodulation, and neurorehabilitation, under the umbrella of the main field named neuroengineering. The general objectives and specific activities are following:
1. To develop data analysis tools to detect and assess electrophysiological events of neurobiological interest.
2. To apply these tools in the analysis of electrophysiological data (e.g. Local Field Potentials). Data will be taken from existent datasets and/or will be collected during the span of this project with the collaboration of the candidate.
3. To search and, if possible, find temporal and spatial patterns of neural activity in which the brain is most susceptible for induction of plasticity.
4. To collaborate in the development of novel neuroprosthesis technology for motor rehabilitation that benefits form these privileged windows of brain plasticity, including the development of hardware-embeddable versions of the previously developed tools.
1. To develop data analysis tools to detect and assess electrophysiological events of neurobiological interest.
2. To apply these tools in the analysis of electrophysiological data (e.g. Local Field Potentials). Data will be taken from existent datasets and/or will be collected during the span of this project with the collaboration of the candidate.
3. To search and, if possible, find temporal and spatial patterns of neural activity in which the brain is most susceptible for induction of plasticity.
4. To collaborate in the development of novel neuroprosthesis technology for motor rehabilitation that benefits form these privileged windows of brain plasticity, including the development of hardware-embeddable versions of the previously developed tools.
Training Objectives (technical/analytical tools, experimental methodologies)
• Neurophysiological signal processing
• Data analysis and statistical testing
• In vivo set-up use and optimization
• Experiments in vivo
• Animal models of neurological disorder
• Depending on the development: hardware programming using HDL
• Data analysis and statistical testing
• In vivo set-up use and optimization
• Experiments in vivo
• Animal models of neurological disorder
• Depending on the development: hardware programming using HDL
Place(s) where the thesis work will be carried out: DIBRIS at UniGe and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rehab Technologies Lab and the Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department
Additional information
Pre-requisite abilities/skills: MATLAB programming skills, signal processing, statistics, attitude to experimental work
Maximum number of students: 1