EEEN40070 Neural Engineering

Academic Year 2023/2024

This course will introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of Neural Engineering. Neural Engineering is an area of biomedical engineering that involves applying engineering principles and techniques to understand and interact with the human nervous system.

In this module, students will learn how to use engineering principles to explore the properties of excitable nerve and muscle tissue. They will develop mathematical models of nerve and muscle excitation and examine the generation of and propagation of bioelectric signals within the human body. Common methods of recording and analysing different types of electrophysiological signals (EEG, EMG and ECG) will be explored and the theory underlying the electrical stimulation of biological tissues will be developed.

These basic principles will then be applied to examine established and emerging applications of neural engineering to restore function in individuals with neurological and neuromuscular disorders in rehabilitation including functional electrical stimulation, motor and neuroprostheses and deep brain stimulation.

Students will participate in lectures, a special scientific research topic of their choice, discussion of scientific papers and laboratory work. Ethical issues related to research involving human subjects and the development of medical devices will also be examined.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

Understand the major divisions of the nervous system and the mechanisms responsible for electrical activity of cardiac, nerve and muscle tissue.

Use mathematical models to calculate ionic currents and voltages in cell membranes at rest and during excitation.

Derive and implement mathematical models to examine the mechanisms of action potential generation and propagation in excitable cells.

Apply electromagnetics principles to solve for electric fields in biological tissues arising from activation of nerve, muscle and cardiac tissues.

Predict the effects of electrical stimuli applied to biological tissues.

Design appropriate protocols for electrical or magnetic stimulation of biological tissues for clinical and research applications.

Discuss applications of biomedical engineering to restore function and to interface with the human nervous system; propose new therapties and technologies for neurorehabilitation.

Discuss ethical issues associated with the design of research studies involving human subjects and the development of medical devices.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30
Tutorial

6
Computer Aided Lab

14
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Key teaching and learning approaches used in the module, include lectures, laboratory work (including computer modelling and recording and analysis of experimental data), journal clubs, student presentations, critical writing, peer and group work.

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Students should have a background in engineering, physics, applied mathematics or a related discipline.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Final exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60
Essay: Essay and presentation on selected special topic in Neural Engineering. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

5
Lab Report: Laboratory work Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

35

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Laboratory Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 12:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Spring