CSM Symposium Preview: Dr. Miguel Nicolelis

“The impossible is just the possible that someone has not put enough effort into making come true,” she used to say.  

Born and raised in Brazil, Nicolelis is a distinguished professor of neuroscience at the Duke School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. He defines himself as a “storm chaser.” Neurons in our brain communicate and generate electrical signals, which, when recorded, sound like rain storms. Therefore, he listens to what he calls “brain symphonies” and tries to extract the messages they carry. This led him to create a new neurophysiological method, known today as the brain-machine interface (BMI).

Nicolelis had an idea to combine his passions for soccer and science. In January 2008, he made it possible to control a robot in Japan. This kick-started the BMI that six years later allowed a paraplegic person to deliver the kick-off at the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening in Brazil.

In addition to his pioneering research, Nicolelis funded the Walk Again Project — an international association of scientists and engineers who’re dedicated to developing an exoskeleton device to support severely paralyzed patients into recovering their full body motor abilities.

Recently, Nicolelis proved it’s possible to communicate without words, gestures or touch. For the first time, he recorded the transfer of meaningful sensorimotor information in real time. He calls this transfer a “neurophysiological torpedo.” Furthermore, he decided to push the limits and built a prospect of what he defined as a “biological computer.” He did so by having three experimental subjects mentally collaborating into achieving a common goal and named it a “brained.” This demonstrates that edge of what we call “self” is abstract and that in the future we might be able to share and donate our mental abilities.

Nicolelis is scheduled to speak at the 26th Annual CSM Symposium on May 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Libin Theatre.

Nicole Barioni is a  PhD student in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and CSM Symposium committee member.