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

The course explores how sensory interaction works, how it can be used to monitor brain health, and how our sensory abilities can be rehabilitated or augmented. The course will show the students how the current technologies and the knowledge about the sensory mechanisms could 1) help, empower, educate the correct development of sensory faculties, 2) rehabilitate sensory deficits, 3) assist the diagnosis of sensory disfunctions, and 4) lead/promote early diagnosis

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

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

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