Viscoelastic Interactions of the Brain Tissue with Brain-Computer Interfaces

Project Information

VIBraTE

Grant agreement ID: 101086815

DOI

10.3030/101086815

EC signature date 11 November 2022

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 January 2028

Funded under

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Total cost

€ 2 047 797,50

EU contribution

€ 2 047 797,50

Coordinated by

INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
Bulgaria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VIBraTE (Viscoelastic Interactions of the Brain Tissue with Brain-Computer Interfaces)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Insight into the interaction between the electrodes of implants and the brain tissue will help maximize the potential of the Brain Computer Interfacing technology and is expected to lead to a new generation of brain electrodes for neuroprosthetics and deep brain stimulation. The Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has recently launched a new Laboratory of Neurotechnology, thanks to the support of the EU-funded “VIBraTE” ERA Chair project. The laboratory focuses on studying the brain and its interaction with implanted electrodes, using advanced methods of modeling and experimentation. The purpose of the ERA Chair is to attract leading international researchers who bring their expertise and international networks and launch new research lines at the host institutions.

The scientific objectives of the VIBraTE project are to
- Model and study how implants and the brain interact through viscoelastic forces;
- Design shapes that improve the recording quality and reliability of invasive brain electrodes;
- Analyze how substances diffuse around implants and how this influences their functionality;
- Model the mechanical effects on the brain activity that is recorded;

Heading the project is Prof. Dimiter Prodanov, MD, who also holds a position at the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec) in Leuven, Belgium—a world-leading research center in the area of nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Since 2008 Dimiter Prodanov conducted research in the development of deep brain stimulation and recording electrodes. Prof. Prodanov has a rich and diverse academic and professional background in neuroscience, medicine, and engineering. Originally a doctor of medicine by training, Prof. Prodanov's research contributions span computational biology, mathematical epidemiology, as well as therapeutic modulation of brain activity. His technical pursuits involve the assessment of technological risks, and the development of computer algebra tools and numerical algorithms to model biophysical phenomena and analyze images.

The VIBraTE Chair relies on the combined expertise of Prof. Prodanov with the relevant expertise in neural network models, scientific computing, and signal processing, already available at the host. The VIBraTE Chair will allow for the formation of a top-notch research group within Bulgaria, which will become a central knowledge hub for neurotechnology in the country.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The first reporting period can be characterized as the ramp-up phase of the research program. The team has expanded to include two postdoctoral researchers, one doctoral student, and a professional project manager. We have achieved significant theoretical results related to Axis 3 and have developed the experimental approach to validate the proposed models by designing two experimental setups. Our activities have been progressing in alignment with the core competencies of the newly hired postdoctoral scientists. IICT designed and built suitable laboratory space for the VIBraTE Chair.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Project activities contributed to the Excellent science pillar of HE. A major scientific impact of the project was the selection of the article entitled “Finite Representations of the Wright Function” as the cover story of the high-impact mathematical journal Fractal and Fractional, Volume 8, Issue 2 (February 2024).
The Wright function is a fascinating mathematical entity of its merit. It was first introduced in 1935, but it gained more attention from mathematicians when they discovered how it relates to the theory of space- and time-fractional diffusion equations.
With two continuous parameters, it is possible to form complex connections with many other elementary and special functions. This work shows all the cases where the Wright function can be expressed as sums of generalized hypergeometric functions and polynomials, which then reveal the links with the theory of the Airy, Bessel, Gaussian, exponential, and error functions, etc.
A concrete application of these results is expected in computer algebra for validating numerical methods for computing the Wright function and computing inverse Laplace transforms.
The article is part of the special issue in Fractal and Fractional entitled “Fractional Differential Operators with Classical and New Memory Kernels ” guest-edited by Prof. Hristov and Prof. Prodanov