UG1EY032039

Visuomotor Prosthetic for Paralysis - The objective of the proposed research is to obtain scientific knowledge of visuomotor transformations in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and primary motor cortex (M1) from tetraplegic subjects in a clinical trial to advance the development of neural prosthetics.

We have shown in clinical trials conducted over the past 6 years that PPC can control neural prosthetics for assisting tetraplegic subjects. Other groups have concentrated on M1 and likewise find control for neural prosthetics. In our studies of PPC, we have found that besides trajectory signals to move robotic limbs or control computer cursors, there are a plethora of visuomotor signals that represent intended movements of most of the body, movement goals, cognitive strategies, and even memory signals.

Our central hypothesis is that PPC and M1 will encode visuomotor parameters in both similar and different ways, and that algorithms can be developed to leverage those signals from the two areas that are complementary to improve prosthetic range and performance. Implants will be made in both M1 and PPC, enabling simultaneous recording in the same subjects, elevating concerns of comparing data from different labs collected in different individuals with different implants and different tasks.

This central hypothesis will be tested in two broad aims, for which we have substantial preliminary data. Aim 1 will examine the control of the body by the two areas. It is hypothesized that M1 will demonstrate strong specificity for the contralateral limb (implants will be made in the hand knob) whereas PPC will code movements for most of the body and on both contra and ipsilateral sides by leveraging its partially mixed encoding of parameters (Subaim 1A). Whereas M1 is hypothesized to code spatial variables exclusively during attempted or imagined actions, it is hypothesized that PPC also encodes cognitive spatial variables in task-appropriate reference frames (Subaim 1B). In Subaim 1C, we will examine how multiple body parts are combined in movement representations, hypothesizing that M1 and PPC will employ a diverse set of mechanisms including linear summation, non-linear combinations, and movement suppression expressed in different ways as a function of brain area and the specific movement set.

Aim 2 will examine the temporal aspects of encoding in the two areas. In Subaim 2A, we will test the hypothesis that the neural dynamics during sustained periods of movement are largely unchanging in both areas. In Subaim 2B, we hypothesize that during sequential movements, M1 codes only the ongoing movement whereas PPC codes both the current and subsequent movements. Finally, in Subaim 2C, we will examine the coding of movement speed, with the hypothesis that there are separate subspaces in both M1 and PPC for direction and speed of movement.

California Institute Of Technology

1) TO SUPPORT EYE AND VISION RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THE LEADING CAUSES OF BLINDNESS AND IMPAIRED VISION IN THE U.S. THESE INCLUDE RETINAL DISEASES, CORNEAL DISEASES, CATARACT, GLAUCOMA AND OPTIC NEUROPATHIES, STRABISMUS, AMBLYOPIA, AND LOW VISION AND BLINDNESS REHABILITATION. 2) TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE NORMAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BETTER PREVENT, DIAGNOSE, AND TREAT SIGHT-THREATENING CONDITIONS, AND, TO ENHANCE THE REHABILITATION, TRAINING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PARTIALLY-SIGHTED OR BLIND. 3) TO SUPPORT A BROAD PROGRAM OF BASIC VISION RESEARCH THROUGH GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, TO ENCOURAGE HIGH QUALITY CLINICAL RESEARCH, INCLUDING CLINICAL TRIALS, OTHER EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES, AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, TO ENCOURAGE RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THE SCIENCES RELATED TO VISION, AND TO SPONSOR SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOPS IN HIGH PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS TO ENCOURAGE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AMONG SCIENTISTS. 4) SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.867 - Vision Research

National Eye Institute (NEI) [HHS - NIH]

Pasadena, California 911250001 United States

Single Zip Code

NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research : Chair's Grant (UG1-Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-18-523)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 349% from $772,350 to $3,468,480.