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NEUROSENSORY ENGINEERING

CODE 106740
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022/2023
CREDITS
  • 6 cfu during the 2nd year of 11159 BIOENGINEERING(LM-21) - GENOVA
  • SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR ING-INF/06
    LANGUAGE English
    TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
  • SEMESTER 1° Semester
    TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

    OVERVIEW

    Our senses are the main means through which we perceive, understand, interact with and react to our environment. Consequently, sensory disabilities are a serious challenge that impacts all levels of physical and social functioning. The impaired brain is often difficult to restore, owing to our limited knowledge of the complex nervous system. Accumulating knowledge in systems neuroscience, combined with the development of innovative technologies, may enable brain restoration in patients with nervous system disorders that are currently untreatable. This course will explore how bioengineering techniques and principles are applied to understand and model sensory systems.

    AIMS AND CONTENT

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    L’insegnamento intende mostrare come I nostri sensi interagiscono e come sia possibile usare l'integrazione multisensoriale per monitorare il corretto funzionamento del nostro cervello e come sia possibile riabilitare/aumentare/recuperare le abilità sensoriali perse. Il corso mostrerà agli studenti come le attuali tecnologie e le conoscenze sui meccanismi sensoriali possano 1) aiutare, potenziare, educare il corretto sviluppo delle facoltà sensoriali, 2) riabilitare i deficit sensoriali, 3) assistere la diagnosi di disfunzioni sensoriali 4) permettere una diagnosi precoce di patologie degenerative

    AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

    Firstly, the course will cover the scientific bases, technologies, and chronic viability of emerging neurosensory prosthetic devices. Secondly, the course will discuss recent progress in neuromorphic engineering, where neuromorphic sensors and sensory systems have made the greatest strides in recent years with many electronic able to mimic the human sensory systems, and subsequent sensor processing. Thirdly, the course aims to show how our senses interact and how it is possible to use multisensory integration to monitor the proper functioning of our brain and how it is possible to rehabilitate/increase/recover lost sensory abilities. The course will be composed of lectures, working-code examples, and hands-on session

    At the end the student will be able to:

    • Understand the main technological solutions to realize prosthetic systems capable of achieving the partial recovery of sensory functions
    • Know the main technological solutions to realize artificial neuromorphic systems
    • Know the main techniques of transduction, coding, and processing of sensory signals
    • Describe the basics of sensory coding and how it can be used to produce artificial systems capable of emulating human sensory systems.
    • Knowing how current technologies and knowledge about sensory mechanisms can 1) help, empower, educate the proper development of sensory faculties, 2) rehabilitate sensory deficits, 3) assist in the diagnosis of sensory dysfunctions
    • Understanding the principles of multisensory integration and how it can be used to rehabilitate sensory deficits

     

    PREREQUISITES

    Programming Matlab and C++/C#, basics of neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, physics, mathematics

    TEACHING METHODS

    Frontal lectures both in classical and flipped-class mode. Problem based learning with projects to be carried out independently in working groups.

    SYLLABUS/CONTENT

    Neurosensory prostheses

    1. Visual prostheses
    2. Audio prostheses
    3. Vestibular prostheses

    Neuromorphic engineering

    1. Neuromorphic retina
    2. Neuromorphic ear
    3. Neuromorphic nose
    4. Neuromorphic skin

    Sensory substitution and augmentation

    1. Audio for vision
    2. Vision for audio
    3. Touch for vision
    4. Touch for audio

    Bases of Multisensory integration

    TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

    Exam Board

    ANDREA CANESSA (President)

    MARCO MASSIMO FATO

    SILVIO PAOLO SABATINI (President Substitute)

    LESSONS

    Class schedule

    All class schedules are posted on the EasyAcademy portal.

    EXAMS

    EXAM DESCRIPTION

    The exam is composed of Project assignments (group work) and an Oral exam. Students will self-organise in small groups and these groups will participate in several activities during the semester. Each assignment will be evaluated for its completeness and overall quality.

    ASSESSMENT METHODS

    The learning outcomes will be assessed during the oral exam and in the group-based assignments.

    Exam schedule

    Date Time Location Type Notes
    10/01/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    30/01/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    13/02/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    05/06/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    26/06/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    17/07/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale
    11/09/2023 10:00 GENOVA Orale