Trent J Bradberry

Systems and Approaches
neural signal processing

Interests
brain-computer interfaces

Summary
In the United States today, there are approximately 350,000 persons living with an amputation, and this number is increasing at a rate of 135,000 per year (National Center for Health Statistics). In addition, several disorders such as spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), and stroke affect about two million people in the United States and many more around the world. Since these disorders inhibit a person from manipulating objects in the environment, there is a clear need for neural prostheses that can be controlled by imagining movements. The objective of my research is to reduce the burden of neurological disease and injury by 1) elucidating the neural coding schemes for upper limb movement in humans and 2) developing a noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI) for controlling an artificial arm capable of serving as a surrogate arm for persons with upper limb amputation or movement impairment. This artificial arm would be capable of being controlled in three-dimensions by the electroencephalographic (EEG) signals of a person imagining reaching in three-dimensions.