Neuromorphic engineering takes inspiration from the signal processing structures found in the brain and physical attributes of animals to design new computers and robots capable of the amazing sensorimotor feats seen in nature. From neurons to behavior, the low-power, robust, real-time, and adaptive nature of biological systems serves as a proof-of-concept of the unique implementation developed by evolution. These principles have been applied to software models of sensory processing, VLSI implementations of neural circuits, and robot design.

The diverse group of researchers within NACS addressing these issues spans many departments: Kinesiology, Biology, Psychology, and Electrical Engineering. Projects range from posture control and locomotion in humans to lamprey, to behavior and neurophysiology in the big brown bat, to learning in song birds, to neuromorphic VLSI sensory systems and mobile robotics. In all of these diverse projects, however, the main research objectives are to bring to bear analytical and modeling tools as well as viewpoints from many different disciplines to develop a broad understanding of how sensory motor interactions produce effective behavior.


Abshire, Pamela, Elec. & Computer Eng

Biotechnology, Channel capacity and efficiency of blowfly photoreceptors, Channel capacity and efficiency of silicon photoreceptors, Fundamental limits on switching energy of the CMOS inverter, Silicon-On-Sapphire (SOS) Photodetectors

Clark, Jane, Kinesiology

Dr.Clark's work focuses on understanding the development of movement control and coordination in motor skills. Her current work examines the role of sensory information in the development of upright posture and locomotion in infants. She also has an on-going project to study perception-action relationships with children who have motor coordination problems.

Cohen, Leonardo G., Chief, Human Cortical Physiology Section and Stroke Neurorehabilitation Clinic,

The goal of our activity is to understand the mechanisms underlying plastic changes in the human central nervous system and to develop novel therapeutic approaches for recovery of function based on these advances. We utilize transcranial magnetic (TMS)and DC (tDCS) stimulation, fMRI, TMS in combination with fMRI, MR spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), PET scanning and magnetoencephalography (MEG) alone or in combination with brain computer interfaces (BCI). We investigate mechanisms of human plasticity in healthy volunteers and the impact in treatment of patients with stroke.

Cohen, Avis, Biology

My colleagues and I study an isolated piece of the nervous system, but an isolated piece that can perform a "behavior." In particular, we study the isolated spinal cord of a primitive vertebrate, the lamprey. The work is focused on the mechanisms underlying the generation of an organized motor behavior, locomotion.

Gentili, Rodolphe, Kinesiology

Dr. Gentili's research focuses on the neural and computational principles underlying (overt, covert) sensorimotor performance and learning in Human, allowing then, a future implementation of similar principles for adaptive control of anthropomorphic robotic systems.

Hatfield, Bradley, Kinesiology

The focus of Dr. Hatfield's program in exercise and sport psychology deals with both the health-related and performance-related aspects of humans in exercise/sport settings.

Haufler, Amy J., Kinesiology

Dr. Haufler's research focuses on the psychology of human physical activity, performance-related research examines the mechanisms underlying the continuum of skill acquisition and performance (novice to expert), strategies to optimize and accelerate skill learning and the role of stress in skilled performance. Health-related research examines the role of physical activity and health status on cognitive performance across the lifespan. Specifically, the role of physical activity, motor skill, and cognition in school-aged children and the aged are of particular interest.

Hodos, William, Psychology

My current research interests are in the evolution of the nervous system and behavior, comparative psychology, neural basis of sensory processes, animal psychophysics, and physiological optics.

Horiuchi, Timothy, Elec. & Computer Eng

Dr. Horiuchi's research program is centered on the development of neural models of sensorimotor behavior and their implementation in VLSI for use in robotic demonstration systems. The laboratory is currently focused on bat echolocation and other auditory and visual projects.

Jeka, John J., COGMO Lab Director, Kinesiology, Bioengineering

The major research focus of my work is targeted towards understanding the integration of multisensory information in functional behavior such as standing and walking. We use these findings to develop biotechnology for individuals with movement disorders.

Jones-Lush, Lauren M., Assistant Professor,

Dr. Jones-Lush's long term research goal is to develop more effective motor rehabilitation therapies for stroke survivors based on principles of neural plasticity and motor learning. Her current projects investigate the neurological and motor learning effects of different methods of reach training in both healthy control subjects and chronic stroke survivors with hemiparesis. She is designing and testing a combination of promising therapies (robotic, virtual reality, and bilateral reach training) using non-invasive neurophysiology measures (transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings) and movement parameters (3-dimensional kinematics and kinetics) to determine possible mechanisms through which they result in functional improvement.

Kanold, Patrick, Biology

We are interested how experience in early life shapes brain function. Since neural circuits underlie brain function we analyze neural circuits in development but also in adult to understand how circuit differences can give rise to different abilities. By interfering with development, we aim to understand how disruption of early circuit function gives rise to neurological disease. To do this we use in vivo and in vitro physiological and imaging approaches such as single and multielectrode recordings, patch clamp recordings, laser-scanning photostimulation, 2-photon Ca-imaging of large networks, optogenetics, and computational modeling.

Krishnaprasad, P. S., Elec. & Computer Eng

Dr. Krishnaprasad's research interests lie in Mathematical Models in Biophysics, Control Theory, Legged Locomotion, Robotics, Collective Phenomena (flocking, swarming), Geometric Methods in Control Theory and in Data Analysis, Evolutionary Game Theory, Bat Echolocation and Flight Behavior, and Auditory Neuroscience.

Levine, William, Elec. & Computer Eng

Dr. Levine's research interests are in the areas of application of modern control theory to the study of the nervous system's control of movement and; control theory and its applications with emphasis on computer aided control system design; application of computers and computation to network control; and applications of modern control and estimation theory to biomedical and aerospace problems.

Moss, Cynthia, Psychology

Our research program is directed at understanding auditory information processing and sensorimotor integration in vertebrates. In our lab, the echolocating bat serves as a model system for a neuroethologically-based study of hearing and perceptually-guided behavior.

Newcomb, Robert, Elec. & Computer Eng

Dr. Newcomb's interests lie in analog VLSI, biomedical engineering especially ear type systems and heart models), circuit and systems theory (especially semistate theory and multiport synthesis), microsystems, neural networks (hardware & biologically motivated), robotics.

Roesch, Matthew R., Psychology

My laboratory studies the neural mechanisms of cognition and their disturbance in disorders such as addiction and schizophrenia. We are interested in the neural underpinnings of reward, learning, motivation, conflict, attention and decision-making. For example, we are currently investigating how the brain guides decisions based on expected outcomes and violations in those expectations. We address these issues with a variety of approaches in behaving rats, including neurophysiology, pharmacology, lesions and drug self-administration.

Shim, Jae Kun, Kinesiology

Dr. Shim's research is currently focused on biomechanics and motor control of (1) hand and digits and (2) lower extremity amputee locomotion as well as their applications to medicine, rehabilitation, and ergonomics. He is especially interested in understanding the CNS control mechanism for motor redundancy, developments of motor functions in typically developing children as well as children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and developmental changes and intervention & adaptation of motor functions in elderly persons and the persons with neurological/genetic disorders or stroke. He uses techniques of biomechanics, motor control and neurophysiology: kinematic analysis using motion capture systems, kinetic/dynamic analysis, neuromuscular training, TMS, EMG, MEG, fMRI, optic fiber Bragg grading (FBG) force sensors, 6-D kinetic pen, etc.

Simon, Jonathan Z., Elec. & Computer Eng, Biology

I am active in a number of research areas, all under the general headings of Auditory Neural Computations and Representations,Computational and Theoretical Neuroscience, and Signal Processing in Biological Systems. My specific research areas are: Magnetoencephalography (MEG): Experimental Research, Analysis, and Signal Processing of Large Scale Neural Data. Coincidence Detection and Neural Coding of Temporal Information in Auditory Brainstem: Modeling. Neural Processing of Spectrotemporal Auditory Information in Mammals: Physiology and Modeling. Signal Processing and Neural Data.

Wittenberg, George,

Dr. Wittenberg's research interests presently lie in using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional imaging to understand motor cortical reorganization following stroke and in designing testing new methods for neurorehabilitation. He is the principal investigator in a study of precisely timed motor cortical stimulation to increase useful plasticity during robotic arm therapy. He also uses TMS and functional MRI to detect changes in motor representation, resting-state brain connectivity, and task-specific activation.

Yager, David D., Psychology

The overarching goal of our laboratory is to find out how insect auditory systems are able to acquire and process acoustic information to yield complex, adaptive behaviors. We are especially interested in the evolution of hearing in insects, and have chosen the very unusual praying mantis ear as a model system.

Zaghloul, Kareem, National Institutes of Health

Research in our lab focuses on understanding the neural correlates of human cognitive function using intracranial recordings captured during epilepsy surgery and deep brain stimulation surgery. In both cases, our lab seeks to record single unit spike activity and local field potential activity directly from the human brain of neurosurgical patients as these patients participate in different cognitive tasks, and to use computational techniques to establish how these signals correlate with different human behaviors. The larger goal of this work centers around understanding the neural code mediating such cognitive processes as memory, decision, and attention. By exploring these questions, we hope to not only gain an understanding of how the human brain processes and relays information, but to potentially open up new possibilities to directly communicate with the brain's complex networks.

• Auditory Neuroethology Lab
• Computational Sensorimotor System Lab
• Intelligent Servosystems Laboratory