Looking ahead – Research topics in wearable neurotechnology innovations from Stanford U.

Neurotechnology research is making real the possibility of human brain and nervous system activity being measured and altered. Neurosensing can lead to better interfaces with technology, an increased understanding of the effectiveness of medication, and new insights into how the nervous system helps regulate physiology and biochemistry. Neuromodulation is enabling new approaches to therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, tinnitus, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease using wearable devices.

An overview of the variety of research at Stanford U. related to wearable eurotechnology will be presented, such as the following examples. Haptic wristbands stimulate nerves to create the perception of grasping an object in VR while leaving hands free. A functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) headband is in development for measuring blood flow changes in the brain that correspond to different mental states and may be used for biofeedback to reduce stress. Whereas electrocardiography (ECG) patches on the chest sense signals from the heart and detect arrhythmia, wearable sensors on the abdomen measure contractions of the stomach and gut to model the function of organs and help
clinicians diagnose digestive issues.

Electromyography (EMG) can be used with biofeedback to help individuals modify their walking gait to reduce long-term knee injury or improve athletic performance. EMG signals for muscles occur before the motion, which may lead to prediction of movement and increased responsiveness for exoskeletons.

Arrays of stretchable electrodes on the surface of the skin enable greater EMG precision than discrete electrodes when reading electrical signals. These e-skin arrays potentially lead to smoother control of robotics, feedback when training for delicate tasks, and more realistic interactions in VR.