Robert Flint Email & Phone Number

Imagine living with paralysis. That simple thought experiment prompts immediate, atavistic fear in most of us, and well it might: paralysis is perhaps the most debilitating medical condition we humans can face. In my training I have worked with people who have lost some of their freedom of movement to paralysis. They have demonstrated an inspiring and humbling determination, not just to cope but also to participate in their own recovery. Still, the inability to move impacts every facet of their daily lives. At worst, it strips away their agency, and even individuality: with a severe movement deficit, living alone and completing essential activities of daily life become impossible. My research centers around a remarkable new 21st century tool to overcome these dark prospects: the brain-machine interface.Using signals from the brain directly to control the external world has long been a staple of science fiction and the popular imagination. The brain-machine interface (BMI) is a real-world tool, with all the attendant hope and practical considerations that implies. At present, BMI use is mostly restricted to research laboratories, though there have been several proof-of-concept demonstrations in the United States and around the world. These remarkable demonstrations showcase the promise for one day reversing the effects of paralysis in a meaningful way. However, there is much room for improvement in BMI control. Currently, BMI movements are slower and less smooth than ordinary (motor intact) limb movements, requiring more effort and concentration. In fact, current BMI-controlled movements resemble movements made by people with clinical movement disorders. I believe that an integrative approach to BMI design will improve control and make the BMI easier to learn. Specifically, my plan is to exploit current understanding of what information is lost in movement disorders that resemble BMI control, and to seek ways of adding that information back in to the BMI.

Listed skills include Matlab, Research, Statistics, Laboratory, and 9 others.