Annotated Bibliographies

Annotated Bibliographies

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Annotated Bibliographies

Allison, B, Edlinger, G, Guger, C. (2013). Brain-computer interface research [electronic resource]: a state-of-the-art summary. Berlin, New York: Springer.

Written by programing experts and specialists in cognitive science and whose interest is in human computer interactions, this study talks in details about “Brain computer Interface (BCI)”. The authors explain BCI as both as a hardware and a software system of communication that aids in cerebral activity control of computers or external devices. The main objective of this system is to help those victims of neurological neuromuscular disorders that left them ‘locked in’ or totally paralyzed. An example of this disorder is the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The authors’ work looks into the basic components of BCI that is signal enhancement, signal acquisition, classification, feature extraction and control interface. This article is important to the students interested in the same field of BCI and future developers who may device better and improved systems than BCI. The study is relevant to scholars seeking to understand more about the BCI system.

Arafat, I Brain–Computer Interface: Past, Present & Future https://www.academia.edu/1365518/Brain_Computer_Interface_Past_Present_and_Futue

Ibrahim Arafat is computer scientist interested in computational neuroscience and Brain Computer Interface among other fields of computer. He talks about the BCI system through his research “Brain Computer-Interface: past, present and future.” In his research, Arafat focuses on the Electroencephalogram (EEG) which records the electro activity around the scalp. This is in line with the BCI system in that the EEG measures the voltage fluctuations produced by the ionic flows within the brain neurons. The research was developed in order to indicate the future and the possibilities of the BCI system in years to come. The research paper explains in details the BCI and EEG technologies and indicates clearly and technically through illustrations and figures how the two are connected.

Bowker, C. (1999). An Investigation into Neural Interfacing, using an EMG device in Virtual Reality.http://www.cs.ru.ac.za/research/groups/vrsig/pastprojects/020neuralinterfacing/paper01.doc

This research project by Dr. Caroline Bowker who is an obstetrician and gynecologist and a graduate of Stanford University investigates how to use an EMG device in virtual reality for neural interfacing. The research aims at accessing the feasibility of the neural interfacing as well as its usefulness. The findings from the research are that the technology is both useful and very feasible in the field of computing and particularly in virtual reality. The author describes neural interfacing as the direct control of computer devices using physical signals. The technology helps people to control computers through devices which can monitor signals both electrical and physical form muscle impulses and skin resistance. The neural interfacing has two sections, one monitors the brain activities and other signals with an aim of replacing input peripherals. The second, taps signals through internally placing electrodes such as directly into the brain.

Coates, S. D. (2008). Neural Interfacing: Forging the Human-Machine Connection. Synthesis Lectures on Biomedical Engineering, 3(1), 1–112. http://doi.org/10.2200/s00148ed1v01y200809bme022

Susanne D. Coates who is the author of the book is a lecturer in the field of Biomedical engineering. The book speaks about neural interfacing and designed to give the reader an insight on the current efforts aimed at developing the neural prostheses. The book is engineered by the growth of technologies aimed at connecting with the human brain through the nervous system over the last 50 years. The author acknowledges that once such technologies only existed as fiction but through the continuous development in technology, the dream is quickly becoming a reality. The discoveries are being made to assist the patients who have experienced partial damage on their brains, which restores their physical functionality. The book is meant for the fresh college students who intend to learn more about the field. This book is relevant for referencing for scholars wishing to follow the same line of study, since it also has a list of laboratories that conduct neural interfacing.

Collinger, J. L., Boninger, M. L., Bruns, T. M., Curley, K., Wang, W., & Weber, D. J. (2013). Functional priorities, assistive technology, and brain-computer interfaces after spinal cord injury. The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(2). http://doi.org/10.1682/jrrd.2011.11.0213

The authors of this article are laboratory experts, veterans in healthcare systems among other specialties in healthcare. The article discusses technology such as Brain Computer interface that are functional priorities due to their assistance to persons after they are faced by spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord is one of the bodies most important organs and its injury affects a person`s quality of life since it prevents performance of critical daily living activities. In order to bridge this gap therefore, there is need to apply assistive technology and increase independence. The article accounts that in a study done during wheelchair games in 2010 indicates that restoring arms, bladder, hands and walking functions are priorities in increasing people`s quality of life. The study however revealed that in designing this technologies it is best to consult the consumers. In addition, the study shows that most of the participants in the competition preferred surgery to implant the BCI which indicates the interest of SCI victims in receiving and contributing to BCI.

Halder, S., Agorastos, D., Veit, R., Hammer, E. M., Lee, S., Varkuti, B., … Kübler, A. (2011). Neural mechanisms of brain–computer interface control. NeuroImage, 55(4), 1779–1790. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.01.021

This article talks about the neuro-mechanisms of BCI control. It explains that for peoples with paralysis, BCI helps them to relate with the environment. It introduces the concept of motor imagery that is said to help in generating distinct cortical activation patterns in the electroencephalogram (EEG) which in turn is said to be control of BCI. The article describes a study that was used to test the cordial correlates of BCI control that required users of sensory motor rhythm (SMR)-BCI be classified into their BCI control performance. The results of the test indicated that high aptitude users revealed higher activation of the supplementary motor areas (SMA) while low aptitude users showed no activation. The findings from the research indicated that the ability to regulate behavior and the brain through a learning mechanism involved imagery such as those required to control a BCI and constitute the consequences of an ideo-motor-co-activation of a brain system through observation of movements.

Jackson, A., & Zimmermann, J. B. (2012). Neural interfaces for the brain and spinal cord—restoring motor function. Nature Reviews Neurology, 8(12), 690–699. http://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.219

This article is based on the technology of neural interface for the brain and spinal cord can be applied in restoring motor functions. It builds more on the articles and research papers discussed earlier and others that have covers this emerging field of study. The article begins through acknowledging that restoring motor functions is the first and most important help to a patient with spinal cord injury (SCI). The article focuses on the brain machine interfaces that decode signals of motor intentions enabling patient-driven functions of assistive devices of computers and robots. There is also a critical forecast into the future of this systems where the next-generation interfaces which combine both stimulating and recording capabilities in closed loop devices will further the potential for neuroelectronic combination of injured motor circuit. The article sums up everything by recommending that several plasticity mechanisms operating through complementation might be the key to therapeutic effects achieved by bridging the gap between electronic devices and nervous system.

Kelly, H.(2015, Jan 5). Computers that know what we want. CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/31/tech/cnn-10-ideas-predictive-tech/

The article adopted from CNN website talks of a computer technology that understands the human wants. As much as this topic is captivating, there is need to understand what it really means since in this modern day when technological advances are at the rise such technology may not be such a surprise. The technology described assumes the features of a robot and is said to offer information even before one realizes he or she actually need it. The technology is designed to take advantage of the habitual nature of man which makes it easy for someone else to predict what one is going to do next even before we do it. The article continues to discuss a whole range of new technologies that are going to apply the anticipatory feature. The feature is being applied as an improvement on the already wide range of applications that exist. Examples used are the automatic thermostat which uses past history in order to keep the house warm even before it is switched on.

Kübler, A., Furdea, A., Halder, S., Hammer, E. M., Nijboer, F., & Kotchoubey, B. (2009). A Brain–computer interface controlled auditory event-related potential (P300) spelling system for locked-in patients. Annals of the New York Academy of sciences, 1157, 90-100. DOI:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2008.04122.x

This article is written by academician in research centers I clinical and health sectors and other healthcare related institutes. The article uses a simpler definition of BCI as a system through which individuals can select items on the screen without the use of muscular movements. The article takes into account instances of the patients suffering from severe paralysis and may also visually impaired or lacking gaze movements. This makes the application of BCI application that requires use of visual inputs no longer feasible. A visual based event-related brain potential is what was rendered applicable to this kind of patients. In the article, it is clear that in order to make the system usable to the patients with ease, the ERP-BCI was adapted to auditory simulation. In the end it was reported that some of the patients experience problems in concentrating in the program. This eluded to the conclusion that the system should be adjusted to take into considerations such specific features as short attention span.

Macmillan,M (1999-2012) The Phineas Gage Information Page. Retrieved From https://www.uakron.edu/gage/story.dot

The article is based on the life of Phineas Gage who the article terms as probably the most famous person who survived a severe brain damage. The person is also the one who led to the discovery of the relationship between personality and the front part of the brain. Phineas Gage was involved in an accident in his line of duty as a railway constructor that saw a tamping rod deeply rouged in his head, destroying completely the first part of his brain. The article talks of Gage as survivor of an accident that normally is a no survival situation according to the doctors and the kind of brain damage that had occurred to Gage. However, amidst all this speculations and defying all odds, after some months following the accident, Gage returned to work and was no different from a normal person. Besides his family, friends and colleagues who could tell he was no more the same, he performed duties and had a work experience for years before his death in 1851.

Mayo clinic staff.(2014,July 29). Disease and conditions: heart diseases. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved

From http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart disease/basics/definition/con-20034056?reDate=27042015

This website is for Mayo Clinic organization. Mayo clinic staff talked about different types of heart diseases and the symptoms.one of them called Artherosderotic which happens in your blood vessels when they are blocked and it causes difficulties in breath. Another type of heart diseases is caused by abnormal heartbeats (heart arrhythmias) which means that people would experience too fast or too slow heartbeats. Some heart diseases caused by heart defects. In fact, this type can be diagnosed after birth. Heart diseases could also happen if you have weak heart muscle and that’s called dilated cardiomyopathy. Also, there are some infections that could also cause heart diseases such as Pericarditis, Myocarditis and Endocarditis. Lastly, there are four valves in hearts that control the blood flow to hearts. They could be damaged which will cause heart diseases.

Mayo clinic staff.(2014,July 29). Disease and conditions: heart diseases. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved

From http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/basics/treatment/con-20034056

This website is for Mayo Clinic organization. Mayo clinic staff talked about treatment for heart disease. They said that there are three ways to treat this diseases. First, change your life style. For example, eating low- fat and low-sodium food and doing some exercises might help in treating heart diseases. Second, taking medications. Beside the lifestyle changes, you have to see your doctor and take the appropriate medicine based on your type of heart diseases. Finally, if all these ways were not enough, your doctor might suggest that you do a surgery. The type of the surgery depends on what type of heart diseases you have.

Preventing Heart Disease - At Any Age. (2015, January 28). American Heart association http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Preventing-Heart-Disease---At-Any- e_UCM_442925_Article.jsp

In this website, the American heart association talked about how you can prevent heart diseases from the beginning of your life. They said, in your 20s, visit your doctor and do wellness exams. Also check your blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate. In your 30s, know your family history, try to control your stress and do deep breathing exercises. In your 40s, check your weight and blood sugar regularly. In your 50s & 60s, eat healthy food, learn about the symptoms of heart stroke and take your medicine if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. To know more about preventing heart diseases.

NINDS. (2014, March 4). Neural Interfaces Program: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved 1 April 2015. From http://www.ninds.nih.gov/research/npp/

This article is adopted in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. The article begins with an introduction to neural interfaces describing them as systems operating at intersection an internal or external device and the neural system. The neural interfaces consists of prosthetics which are man-made extensions which that restore the primary functions of the organs that are affected by the spinal injury or nervous system breakdown. Neural interfaces have been essential in medical treatments and in reducing motor symptoms such as of Parkinson`s disease. It has also impacted implants such as those that reduced the effects of damaged hair cells in the auditory system through direct simulation of the auditory nerve. This article clearly indicates the advancements in this field of study through indicating areas in research that has been of essence in the study of the system.

Luigi Cirocco , Martin Belusko, Frank Bruno , John Boland , Peter Pudney (2014). Optimisation of Storage for Concentrated Solar Power Plants.Sydney, Australia. From http://www.mdpi.com/journal/challenges

This article talks of the need to incorporate scheduled power generation through storage. The storage can either be Thermal Energy Storage (TES) or through Electrical Storage Systems (ESS) which are distributed the electrical network or grid. The article suggestion of this kind of storage is for the proliferation of non-scheduled generation of power from renewable electronic sources such as the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). The article then describes the challenges that lie in the generation of a 100% renewable energy as; maximizing energy dispatch capacity and reducing capitalization costs. Therefore the article focuses on two aspects; review storage technologies and surveying the most appropriate optimization technique and to determine optimal operation and size of storage system.

Hanada A, Kinoshita K, Matsubara K, Fukuhara T and Kishida S, (2011). Developmental mechanism for the resistance change effect in perovskite oxide-based resistive random access memory consisting of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O81d bulk single crystal. http://ojps.aip.org/japo/japcr/jsp

The article talks of resistive random access memory development from a bulk single crystal in which the characteristics and superconducting properties evaluated. The resistance change being evaluated was only observable in some structures and in order to enhance them, the temperature had to be reduced. The results collected from the study indicated that in order to develop the resistance change effect, there needs to be introduction of oxygen depleted layer to the Bi-2212 single crystal. The article also proposes a model that could be used in explaining the resistive switching of the perovskite oxide-based ReRAM through generation of the oxygen depleted layer.

Saleh, H. [personal communication].(2015,March25)

I made an interview with Hind Saleh, who has a computer science degree and actively interested in innovative technologies. I asked about her opinion of the ethic side of this invention. She told me about a story of a doctor was named Dr. Jose Delgado. Delgado conducted neural interfacing experiments. This doctor filmed his experiments in which he attached neural interfaces to monkeys’ brains after removing their skull-caps. This video created a controversial atmosphere among public and people started discussing whether neural interfacing is really going to help improving their community. In fact, the majority of people, who are not aware of what these experiments could bring to them in the future, thought that would lead to more abusive implementations. However, Hind explained that recently people realized how beneficial such experiments are to our privileges.

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