Chapin J K, Moxon K A, Markowitz R S, Nicolelis M A
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129, USA.
Nat Neurosci. 1999 Jul;2(7):664-70. doi: 10.1038/10223.
To determine whether simultaneously recorded motor cortex neurons can be used for real-time device control, rats were trained to position a robot arm to obtain water by pressing a lever. Mathematical transformations, including neural networks, converted multineuron signals into 'neuronal population functions' that accurately predicted lever trajectory. Next, these functions were electronically converted into real-time signals for robot arm control. After switching to this 'neurorobotic' mode, 4 of 6 animals (those with > 25 task-related neurons) routinely used these brain-derived signals to position the robot arm and obtain water. With continued training in neurorobotic mode, the animals' lever movement diminished or stopped. These results suggest a possible means for movement restoration in paralysis patients.
为了确定同时记录的运动皮层神经元是否可用于实时设备控制，研究人员训练大鼠通过按压杠杆来定位机器人手臂以获取水。包括神经网络在内的数学变换将多神经元信号转换为“神经元群体函数”，该函数能准确预测杠杆轨迹。接下来，这些函数被电子转换为用于控制机器人手臂的实时信号。切换到这种“神经机器人”模式后，6只动物中有4只（那些具有超过25个与任务相关神经元的动物）常规使用这些源自大脑的信号来定位机器人手臂并获取水。在神经机器人模式下持续训练后，动物的杠杆运动减少或停止。这些结果提示了一种用于瘫痪患者运动恢复的可能方法。
