ABSTRACT The BRAIN Initiative is designed to leverage sophisticated neuromodulation, electrophysiological recording, and macroscale neuroimaging techniques in human and non-human animal models in order to develop a multilevel understanding of human brain function.
Project Summary/Abstract A fast-growing technique in human neuroscience is electrocorticography (ECOG), the only technique that allows the activity of small population of neurons in the human brain to be directly recorded. We use the term ECOG to refer to the entire range of invasive recording techniques (from subdural strips and grids to penetrating electrodes) that share the common attribute of recording neural activity from the human brain with high spatial and temporal resolution.
Project Summary Recent advances in neurotechnologies have provided us with the ability to modulate brain function by direct and indirect interventions. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is one such intervention that has already been FDA-approved for certain disorders, and its use has already raised ethical questions about ways in which direct brain stimulation may affect personal identity, autonomy, authenticity and, more generally, agency. Thus far the neuroethical worries have been largely based on anecdotal clinical reports.
Project Summary A detailed census of the structure and role of cell type specific data in the brain is recognized as one of the most promising avenues for advancing our understanding of the human brain in health and disease. The primary goal of this project is to build a foundational community resource for housing single-cell centered data content in the brain.
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Major breakthroughs in neuroscience have been achieved through the application of computational models to empirical research. Models are essential to connect theory to behavior and the increasingly rich and complex measures of nervous function at multiple spatial and temporal scales. That said, modeling is a highly complex activity requiring extensive training and multiple skills sets, which has created a critica shortfall in the cadre of researchers with the requisite skills to meet the modeling needs in computational neuroscience.
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Truly integrative and interdisciplinary training in neuroscience is necessary to understand brain function in both normal and pathological states. And such training is not available presently at the pre- and post-doctoral and junior faculty level due to a multitude of reasons. We propose an integrated approach to train the next generation of `neuro' research scientists from several disciplines including biology, psychology, medicine, engineering, physics and mathematics.
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is to administer and further develop a successfully established two-week summer training course titled "Mining and Modeling of Neuroscience Data" which is held at UC Berkeley. The course teaches methods for analyzing neurophysiology data, that is, measurements of the neural activity over time, co-registered with behavior or stimuli.
Project Summary We seek support to develop and build the next generation 7-Tesla magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible positron emission tomography (PET) brain scanner with dramatically improved spatiotemporal resolution (HSTR-BrainPET). PET and MRI are two of the most powerful imaging modalities currently in use for studying the human brain. Recently, scanners capable of simultaneous PET and MR whole-body data acquisition in human subjects have become commercially available.
ABSTRACT The overarching goal of this project is to optimize, validate and implement a revolutionary and safe modality for noninvasive functional imaging of neural currents deep in the human brain through the skull at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Transcranial Acoustoelectric Brain Imaging (tABI) is a disruptive technology that exploits pulses of ultrasound (US) to transiently interact with physiologic current, producing a radiofrequency (RF) signature detected by one or more sensors (e.g., surface electrodes).
Project Summary/Abstract A central problem in neuroscience is to understand how activity arises from neural circuits to drive animal behaviors. Solving this problem requires integrating information from multiple experimental modalities and organization levels of the nervous system. While modern neurotechnologies are generating high-resolution maps of the brain-wide neural activity and anatomical connectivity, novel theoretical frameworks are urgently needed to realize the full potential of these datasets.
