Course information

Course Contents
This course offers a perspective on how biomedical engineers and medical professionals can effectively communicate about the needs and goals of medical technology through the lens of neurostimulation and neurorehabilitation 
[b]Introductory Part 1: Overview of Nervous System Organization, Concepts, and Methodological Scales[/b]
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[*]An introduction to holism, modularism, and connectionism in the organization of the nervous system
[*]Overview of functional anatomy of the nervous system 
[*]A review of nervous system mapping at micro-, meso-, and macro-scale levels
[*]Plasticity and reorganization in the nervous system: phenomena and interpretations, an across-scales journey 
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[b]Introductory Part 2: Overview of Brain Stimulation Technologies[/b]
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[*]What can be stimulated? Re-examining the nervous system anatomy and physiology through its stimulation.
[*]Brain stimulation approaches overview
[*]Research questions addressable by different brain stimulation approaches
[*]Translating brain stimulation techniques between animal models and human applications
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[b]Introductory Part 3: Overview of Neurorehabilitation Principles and Practice[/b]
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[*]Neurorehabilitation: History, key concepts, and the current state of the field
[*]Plasticity vs Compensation, and Rehabilitation goals
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[b]Main Part: Translating Methodologies and Concepts Across Scales and Disciplines[/b]
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[*]Case Studies: analyze together both successful and challenging examples from neurostimulation and neurorehabilitation, focusing on translating micro-level insights into meso- and macro-scale interventions, and inter-field communication 
[*]Toy-Projects with common discussion: Group activities in which students alternate roles between customer and developer to simulate real-world technology challenges
[*]Mini-group projects: students select, develop and defend projects that integrate course insights. 
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Literature
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[*]Principles of Neural Science (6th ed.) Kandel, ER, et al. – McGraw-Hill, New York, 2021.
[*]Medical Neurobiology (2nd ed.) Mason, P. – Oxford University Press, 2017.
[*]Broken Movement: The Neurobiology of Motor Recovery after Stroke John W. Krakauer & S. Thomas Carmichael, The MIT Press, 2017
[*]Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Neurosurgery edited by Krieg, S. – Springer, 2017.
[*]Clinical Pathways in Stroke Rehabilitation: Evidence-based Clinical Practice Recommendations (1st Edition) Thomas Platz, Springer, 2021
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Preconditions
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[*]Strong interest in neurotechnology, neuroscience, or rehabilitation engineering.
[*]Willingness to engage in open discussion, including role-playing as physicians/psychologists and developers/engineers.
[*]Fluency in English to participate in discussions, read academic literature, and present project work.
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