Worthing Rice Apprentice ProgramRead, Write, Study and Learn about the brain,

electronics, and computers in small, serious, caring groups lead by Rice students and faculty.

April 21, 2011

One Challenge: 3 Million with EpilepsyThree Teams Team VNS Crystal, Charriel and Donya Jessica, Alicia and Malcolm

Team Spike Jairus, Naam, Edwin, Princess, Andre, and Kendre Katie, Jen, Jamie and Jon

Team EEG Keyera, Sade, Sane, Javan, Loyce and Guillermo Andrew, Kiefer, Ryan, Zach and Steve

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Group

Charriel Greer, Donya Guyton, Crystal Stanford-Wallace

A large percentage of epileptic patients do not respond to anti-convulsant drugs.

Rather than removing the suspect brain tissue doctors often trick the brain into treating itself.

One such method is Vagus Nerve Stimulation, in which the Vagus Nerve is artificially driven at a rate and amplitude that leads to the beneficial release of calming hormones into the hyperactive tissue.

Vagus Nerve Stimulator Small device which

is the size of a silver dollar

Sends mild, electrical impulses to the brain through vagus nerve

Vagus nerve then stimulates Locus Coeruleus which delivers a hormone that reduces seizures.

Locus Coeruleus and Norepinephrine The Locus Coeruleus is a

nucleus in the brain stem that responds to stress and panic.

Norepinephrine has two roles. It is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a stress hormone it affects parts of the brain where attention and responding actions are controlled. In the central nervous system and sympathetic nervous system where it is released from noradrenergic neurons.

Neuron Communication

A Closer Look at the Synapse

Removal of Neurotransmitters

Chemical EquationsReactants and Products Types of Equations

BalancingEqual moles of each atom on each side of the equation

Rate of Reactions Depends on

Concentration of Reactants Rate coefficients

A+B C Forward Rate= kf [A][B] Reverse Rate= kr [C]

Neurotransmitters and Receptors

R + Nt C

Forming Complexes

R + Nt C

Comparing Normal and Epileptic Patients

Condition Total Neurotransmitters Concentration

Concentration of Complexes Formed

Normal At Rest 0.0001 0.001

Normal Firing 0.05 0.7

Epilepsy Firing 0.1 0.9

Because epilepsy patients have more formed complexes, the neurons will fire more.

Modeling: the First Step to Understanding EpilepsyThis design characterizes the reaction

between neurons and neurotransmittersUsing this, we can determine the

concentration of complexes when a neuron fires

By modeling the synapse, we hope to gain a better understanding of how neuron disorders work

Team Spike

Naam McClinton Kendre Watson Princess Rolle Edwin Garcia Andre Burrell Jairus Warren

Goal: Build circuits that produce spikes

Passive Model

Simulations

Fitzhugh-Nagumo Model Simplification of the active neuron model Future work: examine synchrony among neurons

EEG = Extremely Excited Group

Guillermo Chavez Javan Hamilton Loyce Gayo Keyera Lee Sane Picquet Sade Picquet

Goal: Decode brain waves into movement

Projects

Programming in Octave & Matlab Building EEG circuit board Building the awesome car (soon) Recording and measuring brain waves Putting it all together

What is EEG?

EEG (electroencephalogram)

Measures electrical activity in the brain

Common uses for brain disorders, e.g., Epilepsy

EEG Circuit Building

Electrical parts and components Capacitors Resistors Potentiometers Wires Op-amps Bread board Battery

The Secret Behind the Magic!

Raw Data from EEG

Linear interpolation

Fourier Transform

CAR MOVES (aaaaaaaawwwwhhh moment)

Mathematical Methods Math basics

Fourier Theory- breaks down brain waves into sine waves (Play FREQ)

Programming Trapezoid Rule Fourier series Move car by high (gamma) vs. low (theta) frequency

Demo & Thanks

Our Mentors Dr. Dave Caprette (Crawfish and Frog Labs) Dr. Maria Oden and Mr.Carlos Amaro (Design

Kitchen) Dr. Anne Saterbak (Microscope/Circuit Lab) Ms. Laura Cox (Snacks) Ms. Honore and Dr. Cox