CFH1b Partnership - Interpreting the electrical signals in the nervous system - towards a framework for therapeutic benefit

Our movements are governed by electrical signals generated by the brain and spinal cord which activate skeletal muscles in a co-ordinated manner. Non-invasive recordings from the surface of the scalp and the surfaces of different muscles can be used to investigate neural control of movement. We wish to refine the mathematical descriptions of these electrical signals to provide information in real-time regarding the state of the nervous system. In particular we wish to determine when there is an increase in the strength of dependency between the electrical activities in different parts of the nervous system. Our hypothesis is that the ability to determine when these short lasting periods occur can be exploited to improve “neuromodulation”, influencing the behaviour of the nervous through non-invasive external stimulation. We believe this will lead to greater functional gain in patients undergoing motor rehabilitation due to conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury or cerebral palsy.