Memory ImplantsGillian Bryson

CST 300Fall 2013

• A biomedical engineer and neuroscientist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

• The focus of majority of his current research is the hippocampus, a neural system essential for learning and memory functions.

Theodore Berger

What is the Hippocampus?

● The Hippocampus is the part of the brain that is involved in memory forming, organizing and storing.

● It is a limbic system structure that is particularly important in forming new memories and connecting emotions and senses.

The goal of this research is to address three general issues: (1) the relation between cellular/molecular processes, systems-level

functions, and learned behavior.(2) the extent of which the functional dynamics of neural systems

are altered by activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.(3) the extent to which the essential functions of a neural system

can be incorporated within a hardware representation.

http://www.technologyreview.com/video/521446/theodore-berger-university-of-southern-california/

Theodore Berger continued...

• The purpose is to study the way living hippocampus neurons behave and exchange electrical signals and to adapt this behavior to a synthetic device; a computer chip.

• For people whose brains have suffered damage from Alzheimer’s, stroke or injury.

Purpose

• Restores the ability to create long-term memories.

• Silicon chips that mimics the signal process that neurons give when they are functioning correctly.

• A patient with severe memory loss can get help from an electronic implant.

Function

• The implants are currently being tested in rats and will eventually be tested in other animals.

• A first test of the implant in humans is projected in the next five years.

Testing

Long term effects...

• Provide a until now, unavailable treatment for damaged brain function.

• Breakthrough step towards finding a cure for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Berger for sees a future where drugs and implants can be used together to treat early dementia.

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• Treat strokes• Treat localized brain

injuries• Potential to treat

Alzheimer’s disease • The capability of

treating early dementia

Pros vs Cons

• Can’t help patients with advanced dementia

• Difficulty treating Alzheimer’s because it affects multiple parts of the brain

Acey, M. (2013, May 8). Brain implants: Restoring memory with a microchip. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/07/tech/brain-memory-implants-humans/

Carey, B. (2013, June 19). Memory implant gives rats sharper recollection. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/science/17memory.html?hp&_r=0

Cohen , J. (2013, April 23). Memory implants. Retrieved from http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/513681/memory-implants/

Daily Mail Reporter. (2013, May 7). The microchip that will save your memory: Scientists set to implant device to preserve experiences into brains read more. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2321081/Scientists-hope-implant-microchips-generate-memories-human-brains-2-years.html

Fecht, S. (2013, June 17). Going wireless and restoring memories: The incredible future of brain implants read more. Retrieved from http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/nueroscience/going-wireless-and-restoring-memories-the-incredible-future-of-brain-implants-15601295

Usc neuroscience:theodore w berger. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.usc.edu/programs/neuroscience/faculty/profile.php?fid=23Home of research on the development of biomimetic models of hippocampus to serve as neural

prostheses for lost cognitive and memory function.. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://neural-prosthesis.com/

References

(2011). Dr. Theodore Berger [Web Photo]. Retrieved fromhttp://img.allvoices.com/thumbs/event/609/480/81968296-dr-theodore.jpg(2013, april 5). Hormones, hysterectomy and the hippocampus [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from

http://www.hormonesmatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hippocampus.jpg(2013, may 3). The microchip that will save your memory: Scientists set to implant device to preserve experiences into

BRAINS Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2321081/Scientists-hope-implant-microchips-generate-memories-human-brains-2-years.html(2013, june 17). A brain implant could help improve your memory [Web Photo]. Retrieved from

http://www.dvice.com/sites/dvice/files/styles/blog_post_media/public/images/rat-brain-implant.jpg?itok=AgPjITw8

References