Miguel Nicolelis - The Future of Human Augmentation

Miguel A. L. Nicolelis, MD, PhD, is a Professor in Neuroscience at the Departments of Neurobiology, Neurology, Biomedical Engineering, and Psychology and Neuroscience at the Duke School of Medicine and is the Co-Director of the Duke Center for Neuroengineering.

Nicolelis delivered his Shannon Luminary Lecture "The future of human augmentation" on March 21, 2019 at Nokia Bell Labs headquarters in Murray Hill, New Jersey.

In his distinguished career, Nicolelis has focused on the development of a brain-machine interface, and his team is now able to demonstrate the possibility of primates interacting directly and bidirectionally without the use of muscles or sensory organs, but solely through brain-machine interfaces. Recent research by Nicolelis looks at how neuron ensembles encode motor information, and how different neuroprosthetic designs function with the body. Even more exciting is that when these interfaces are used for robotic arms or legs, significant changes occur in the neural circuits that help the subject "feel" as if the prostheses were part of the body.

Recent research by Nicolelis looks at how neuron ensembles encode motor information, and how different neuroprosthetic designs function with the body. When these interfaces are used for robotic arms or legs, significant changes occur in the neural circuits that help the subject "feel" as if the prostheses were part of the body.