The neural representation of an auditory spatial cue in the primate cortex.

Humans make use of small differences in the timing of sounds at the two ears-interaural time differences (ITDs)-to locate their sources. Despite extensive investigation, however, the neural representation of ITDs in the human brain is contentious, particularly the range of ITDs explicitly represented by dedicated neural detectors. Here, using magneto- and electro-encephalography (MEG and EEG), we demonstrate evidence of a sparse neural representation of ITDs in the human cortex.

Integrating Upper-Limb Prostheses with the Human Body: Technology Advances, Readiness, and Roles in Human-Prosthesis Interaction.

Significant advances in bionic prosthetics have occurred in the past two decades. The field's rapid expansion has yielded many exciting technologies that can enhance the physical, functional, and cognitive integration of a prosthetic limb with a human. We review advances in the engineering of prosthetic devices and their interfaces with the human nervous system, as well as various surgical techniques for altering human neuromusculoskeletal systems for seamless human-prosthesis integration.

Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface: Surgical Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial in Postamputation Pain.

Surgical procedures, including nerve reconstruction and end-organ muscle reinnervation, have become more prominent in the prosthetic field over the past decade. Primarily developed to increase the functionality of prosthetic limbs, these surgical procedures have also been found to reduce postamputation neuropathic pain. Today, some of these procedures are performed more frequently for the management and prevention of postamputation pain than for prosthetic fitting, indicating a significant need for effective solutions to postamputation pain.

Intuitive control of additional prosthetic joints via electro-neuromuscular constructs improves functional and disability outcomes during home use-a case study.

The advent of surgical reconstruction techniques has enabled the recreation of myoelectric controls sites that were previously lost due to amputation. This advancement is particularly beneficial for individuals with higher-level arm amputations, who were previously constrained to using a single degree of freedom (DoF) myoelectric prostheses due to the limited number of available muscles from which control signals could be extracted. In this study, we explore the use of surgically created electro-neuromuscular constructs to intuitively control multiple bionic joints during daily life with a participant who was implanted with a neuromusculoskeletal prosthetic interface.

Probucol-bile acid based nanoparticles protect auditory cells from oxidative stress: an study.

Excessive free radicals contribute to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The antioxidant probucol holds promise, but its limited bioavailability and inner ear barriers hinder effective SNHL treatment. We addressed this by developing probucol-loaded nanoparticles with polymers and lithocholic acid and tested them on House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti cells.

Detection of evoked resonant neural activity in Parkinson's disease.

. This study investigated a machine-learning approach to detect the presence of evoked resonant neural activity (ERNA) recorded during deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in people with Parkinson's disease..

Fraxicon for Optical Applications with Aperture ∼1 mm: Characterisation Study.

Emerging applications of optical technologies are driving the development of miniaturised light sources, which in turn require the fabrication of matching micro-optical elements with sub-1 mm cross-sections and high optical quality. This is particularly challenging for spatially constrained biomedical applications where reduced dimensionality is required, such as endoscopy, optogenetics, or optical implants. Planarisation of a lens by the Fresnel lens approach was adapted for a conical lens (axicon) and was made by direct femtosecond 780 nm/100 fs laser writing in the SZ2080™ polymer with a photo-initiator.

The prevalence and risk factors for phantom limb pain: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: We previously performed a systematic review and meta-analysis which revealed a Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) prevalence estimate of 64% [95% CI: 60.01-68.1].

Implantation Surgery for Abdominal Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Recording Studies in Awake Rats.

Abdominal vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can be applied to the subdiaphragmatic branch of the vagus nerve of rats. Due to its anatomical location, it does not have any respiratory and cardiac off-target effects commonly associated with cervical VNS. The lack of respiratory and cardiac off-target effects means that the intensity of stimulation does not need to be lowered to reduce side effects commonly experienced during cervical VNS.

Multimodal assessment of tinnitus using functional near-infrared spectroscopy and psychophysiological measures.

Objective: To use a multimodal approach to classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, and individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus.

Design: We have previously shown feasibility of a non-invasive imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect tinnitus-related changes in cortical activity and classify individuals with tinnitus from controls, as well as individuals with mild versus severe tinnitus. In this study we have used a multimodal approach by recording heart rate, heart rate variability and skin conductance, in addition to fNIRS signals, from individuals with tinnitus and controls.

Patient-Related Outcome Measures for Oculomotor Symptoms in the Cerebellar Ataxias: Insights from Non-Cerebellar Disorders.

In patients with cerebellar ataxia (CA), symptoms related to oculomotor dysfunction significantly affect quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to analyze the literature on patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) assessing QoL impacts of vestibular and cerebellar oculomotor abnormalities in patients with CA to identify the strengths and limitations of existing scales and highlight any areas of unmet need. A systematic review was conducted (Medline, Embase) of English-language original articles reporting on QoL measures in patients with vertigo, dizziness or CA.

Bilateral vestibulopathy: a clinical update and proposed diagnostic algorithm.

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is characterized by its heterogeneous and chronic nature with various clinical presentations and multiple etiologies. This current narrative review reflects on the main insights and developments regarding clinical presentation. In addition, it proposes a new diagnostic algorithm, and describes available and potential future therapeutic modalities.

A comprehensive characterization of cognitive performance, clinical symptoms, and cortical activity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate clinical symptoms, cognitive performance and cortical activity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Methods: We recruited 30 individuals in the sub-acute phase post mTBI and 28 healthy controls with no history of head injury and compared these groups on clinical, cognitive and cortical activity measures. Measures of cortical activity included; resting state electroencephalography (EEG), task related EEG and combined transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG).

Clinical outcomes of deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder: Insight as a predictor of symptom changes.

Aim: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a safe and effective treatment option for people with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Yet our understanding of predictors of response and prognostic factors remains rudimentary, and long-term comprehensive follow-ups are lacking. We aim to investigate the efficacy of DBS therapy for OCD patients, and predictors of clinical response.

Spread of activation and interaction between channels with multi-channel optogenetic stimulation in the mouse cochlea.

For individuals with severe to profound hearing loss resulting from irreversibly damaged hair cells, cochlear implants can be used to restore hearing by delivering electrical stimulation directly to the spiral ganglion neurons. However, current spread lowers the spatial resolution of neural activation. Since light can be easily confined, optogenetics is a technique that has the potential to improve the precision of neural activation, whereby visible light is used to stimulate neurons that are modified with light-sensitive opsins.

Plug-and-Play Microphones for Recording Speech and Voice with Smart Devices.

Introduction: Smart devices are widely available and capable of quickly recording and uploading speech segments for health-related analysis. The switch from laboratory recordings with professional-grade microphone setups to remote, smart device-based recordings offers immense potential for the scalability of voice assessment. Yet, a growing body of literature points to a wide heterogeneity among acoustic metrics for their robustness to variation in recording devices.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial random noise stimulation on working memory and task-related EEG in major depressive disorder.

Objective: To compare effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial random noise stimulation with a direct-current offset (tRNS + DC-offset) on working memory (WM) performance and task-related electroencephalography (EEG) in individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Methods: Using a sham-controlled, parallel-groups design, 49 participants with MDD received either anodal tDCS (N = 16), high-frequency tRNS + DC-offset (N = 16), or sham stimulation (N = 17) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20-minutes. The Sternberg WM task was completed with concurrent EEG recording before and at 5- and 25-minutes post-stimulation.

Application of single wrist-wearable accelerometry for objective motor diary assessment in fluctuating Parkinson's disease.

Advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor fluctuations including unpredictable oscillations remarkably impairing quality of life. Effective management and development of novel therapies for these response fluctuations largely depend on clinical rating instruments such as the widely-used PD home diary, which are associated with biases and errors. Recent advancements in digital health technologies provide user-friendly wearables that can be tailored for continuous monitoring of motor fluctuations.

A highly integrated bionic hand with neural control and feedback for use in daily life.

Restoration of sensorimotor function after amputation has remained challenging because of the lack of human-machine interfaces that provide reliable control, feedback, and attachment. Here, we present the clinical implementation of a transradial neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis-a bionic hand connected directly to the user's nervous and skeletal systems. In one person with unilateral below-elbow amputation, titanium implants were placed intramedullary in the radius and ulna bones, and electromuscular constructs were created surgically by transferring the severed nerves to free muscle grafts.

At-Home Blood Pressure Measurements Provide Better Assessments of Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson's Disease.

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is common in Parkinson's Disease (PD). It is intermittent, exacerbated by stressors including meals, medications, and dehydration, and frequently is unrecognized. Although intermittent, assessment is usually by a single "in clinic" BP measurement.