Development of Advanced Active Haptic System for Musculokelelton- Exoskeleton Interactions

摘要

The focus of our project during the reporting period was on the feasibility analysis of using the cognoscope for functional imaging of the brain. The Cognoscope was designed based on the concept of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NiRS). NIRS allows for resolution of cortical activity non- invasively. By using magnetoencephalography (MEG) our effort was focused on the verification of the Cognoscope. After receiving IRB approvals, we began our tests on the human subject brain functions imaging by means of both the Cognoscope and the MEG. Five subjects have been tested and MEG data has been analyzed and compared to the Cognoscope images. The results are promising in terms of detecting brain images that correspond to different muscle movements that human subjects performed, as described in our lRB protocol. In order to pursue this study further, we have determined that the resolution of the Cognoscope must be improved in terms of both sensor density and scan rate. In the process of increasing the resolution of the Cognoscope we intend to also eliminate the need for human subjects to not have any hair over the areas of the head where the cognoscope is placed.