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Lecture on ‘Design and control of hand and leg exoskeletons for neuro-rehabilitation of stroke patients’ by Prof. Ashish Dutta

March 3, 2021 in 2021

Webinar 4 in the Seminar on Robotics for rehabilitation and elderly care seminar series.

By Prof. Ashish Dutta, Jag Mohan Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Dean of Digital Infrastructure and Automation, IIT Kanpur on 3 March 2021

Abstract: Patients suffering from loss of hand or leg functions caused by stroke or spinal cord injuries have driven a surge in the development of wearable robotic devices. This talk covers several aspects of the design, control and experimentation of hand and leg exoskeletons for rehabilitation of stroke patients. The designs are based on the human joint motion trajectory, in order to emulate the motion Prof. Ashish Dutta obtained his PhD in Systems Engineering from Akita University, Japan, MTech from Jadavpur University and BTech from NIT Calicut. From 1994 to 2000 he was with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai where he worked on telemanipulator design and control for nuclear applications. Since 2002 he has been with IIT Kanpur, where he is currently the Jag Mohan Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Dean of Digital Infrastructure and Automation. He was also a visiting professor in Nagoya University, Japan in 2006 and is currently a visiting professor at Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan. His research interests are in the areas of humanoid robotics, motion planning in 3D, intelligent control systems and rehabilitation engineering. He has over 100 publications in various international journals, conferences, book chapters, books, etc. Prof. Dutta has also served as member of advisory board of ISRO Chandrayan II Lunar mission (2009), member of Bureau of Indian Standards, Task force on AI of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2017-), Secretary of The Robotics Society(India) 2011-2017, etc.

The recording is available below:

Lecture on ‘Memory integration as a unified model of lasting memory formation and modification’ by Dr Ella Gabitov

February 26, 2021 in 2021

The talk was conducted on 26 Feb 2021

Biography: Ella Gabitov, PhD, is a research associate at the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre of the Montreal Neurological Institute affiliated with McGill University. In her research, she uses a multimodal approach combining psychophysics and cutting-edge technologies for non-invasive brain functional imaging to study neural mechanisms underlying acquisition of procedural (“how-to”) knowledge in humans. This “how-to” knowledge is at the basis of cognitive and executive skills that allow adaptive behaviors necessary for effective everyday functioning. Areas of her special interest include motor skill consolidation, reactivation-based plasticity, and the role of prediction error signals in regulating these memory-related processes. Dr Gabitov received her undergraduate degree in mathematics and philosophy. She holds an MA. and PhD in brain research from the University of Haifa. Over the course of her graduate training, she worked under the supervision of Prof Avi Karni studying neural substrates underlying encoding and consolidation of motor skills. In 2014, she joined the laboratory of Prof. Julien Doyon at the University of Montreal to study the role of sleep in procedural and declarative memories. In 2017, she was invited to continue her research at the Montreal Neurological Institute, where she currently holds the position of research associate. She contributed to major brain science initiatives such as the Human Brain Project. Funding agencies supporting her research include the ERA-NET NEURON, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS).

Abstract: Memory integration as a unified model of lasting memory formation and modification

“When learning a new task, initially encoded memories are not instantaneously stably stored in the brain. Rather, they are labile and can be easily disrupted by new experiences until they are gradually stabilized by a slow-operating process called consolidation. This process requires time and may be facilitated by sleep. However, there is evidence suggesting that successful consolidation does not render memories permanently stable. Instead, they may destabilize and return to their labile state when retrieved and be subject to disruption unless they are re-stabilized through a consolidation-like process called reconsolidation. The idea of re-opening a time-window during which consolidated memories can be changed is very exciting because it offers an opportunity to facilitate learning as well as weaken or even delete maladaptive memories. In this regard, it has been proposed that reconsolidation, as opposed to consolidation, serves a unique adaptive function maintaining memories to be useful and relevant. Alternatively, it is possible that reconsolidation is not mediated by dissociable mechanisms but rather corresponds to a never-ending consolidation process. In this talk, I will present the results of my work that demonstrate that consolidated motor memory in humans can be disrupted by combining memory retrieval with behavioral interference. I will argue that such disruption is the product of the integration of new competitive knowledge through the de novo consolidation process rather than a failure of reconsolidation. I will further suggest that memory integration occurs through a tagging and capture process – a molecular mechanism that shapes the way memory is represented in the brain.”

Lecture on ‘Robotics for assessment and training of dynamic balancing during walking’ by Prof. Zlatko Matjači

February 15, 2021 in 2021

Webinar 3 in the Seminar on Robotics for rehabilitation and elderly care seminar series.

By Prof. Zlatko Matjači, Professor of Biomechanics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Head of R and D Unit, University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia on 15 February 2021

Abstract: Ability to adequately maintain dynamic balance during walking is an essential task in human locomotion which is in most cases impaired after stroke. We developed a robot that enables application of perturbing pushes to the pelvis during walking. Experimental studies in neurologically intact subjects have shown that balancing responses to perturbing pushes greatly vary with speed of walking as well. Zlatko Matjačić obtained PhD in electrical engineering from University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Currently, he is the Head of Research and Development Unit at University Rehabilitation Institute, Republic of Slovenia. He is also a Full Professor of Biomechanics at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. From 1998 to 2001 he was with Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, Denmark. His research interests include human motion analysis and synthesis, biomechanics, and rehabilitation robotics. He has led several national and international research projects related to rehabilitation of movement. He holds eleven international patents, two of them were commercialized as standing balance training device “Balance Trainer” and walking balance training device “E-go”(www.thera-trainer.de). His group has in the last decade developed several rehabilitation robots for neurorehabilitation of goal-directed upper extremity movement and for neurorehabilitation of walking. The work of his research group is strongly oriented into transfer of basic science into viable practical approaches and devices with the view of deployment in clinical practice. Dr. Matjačić received “The Jožef Stefan Golden Emblem Award” for outstanding contributions made to science in doctoral thesis (2000) as well as prestigious Slovenian national “Puh Award” for excellence in transferring new scientific findings into innovative products (2012).

The recording is available below: