Somatosensory feedback for brain-machine interfaces: Perceptual model and experiments in rat whisker somatosensory cortex

Gene Y. Fridman, Hugh T. Blair, Aaron P. Blaisdell, Jack W. Judy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A model that predicts psychophysical ability to discriminate electrical stimulation trains is presented. Our model is a leaky integrator, which operates based on the hypothesis that the perceived intensity of a stimulus train is a function of the total number of action potentials evoked over the volume of stimulated neurons. The model predictions are validated with our experimental results obtained from four Long Evans rats on a two-alternative behavioral task. The rats were stimulated in the whisker barrel cortex using frequency, amplitude, and duration modulation. Our results demonstrate that the rats generalized the perception of frequency, amplitude, and duration of stimulation, in a manner consistent with the model. The surprising finding of our work is that the model is able to accurately predict the psychophysical discrimination of intensity, without accounting for the neural network properties of the somatosensory cortex.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 3rd International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering
Pages379-385
Number of pages7
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 25 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event3rd International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering - Kohala Coast, HI, United States
Duration: May 2 2007May 5 2007

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 3rd International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering

Other

Other3rd International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityKohala Coast, HI
Period5/2/075/5/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Neuroscience (miscellaneous)

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