National and International Projects

At the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the UMC Utrecht Brain Center we elucidate the neuronal mechanisms underlying human brain function in order to understand, diagnose and treat patients with mental disorders and with afflictions of the central and peripheral nervous system.

We aim to understand the relationship between electrical, metabolic, cerebrovascular and neurochemical processes of neuronal populations on the one hand, and normal and abnormal behaviour on the other hand. To that end, we focus both on methodology, application in brain imaging research and on the development of neurotechnology such as Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Our Ongoing Implant Projects

Utrecht NeuroProsthesis

Establishing communication in people with Locked-In Syndrome via a fully implantable Brain-Computer Interface system.

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CortiCom

Collaboration with Johns Hopkins to investigate optimal position and density of electrode grids on the hand and the face area for speech Brain-Computer Interface.

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INTRECOM

Collaboration with Wyss Center, CorTec Neuro and TU Graz to develop a fully implantable BCI for communication in people with severe motor impairment.

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INTENSE

Workpackage on decoding of attempted speech in people with speech disabilities due to paralysis with Maastricht and Amsterdam at large ‘Crossover’ consortium.

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NOTION

Development of a new approach for providing people implanted with one of our Brain-Computer Interfaces with somatosensory feedback in order to improve its training and performance.

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Neuroscience Projects

Speak without talking

Investigate whether silently spoken words can be detected and discriminated from the face region of the brain for Brain-Computer Interface control.

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UEBIT

Collaboration between the UMC Utrecht and the Technical University of Eindhoven, for development of an ultra-low power Brain-Computer Interface implant.

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The Dutch Brain Interfaces Initiative (DBI2)

Consortium program that develops principles, devices, and practices to study the brain, in order to better understand disorders, aspects of moods, emotions, and compulsions.

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BCIs & the disruption of the concept of personhood

Understanding how Brain-Computer Interfaces disrupt assumptions about where and how we can (or should) demarcate something as ontologically and ethically significant as personhood. This project is part of the ESDIT consortium.

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NeuroCIMT

Understand cortical organization of the human sensorimotor cortex, in order to further advance Brain-Computer Interface and Neuromodulation solutions.

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Bad-Ass Imaging Research

Relate fMRI measurements directly to electrocorticography, optical and non-invasive electrical methods, at very high resolutions.

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REANIMATE/MANIFESt

Exploring functional electrical stimulation of the face to restore facial expressions in communication BCIs.

ALPHABET

Exploring functional electrical stimulation of the face to restore facial expressions in communication BCIs.

Other research

NeuroSAFARI

Pediatric Neuroscience Lab that focuses on investigating developing brain and the feasibility of implanted Brain-Computer Interfaces for children with complex needs.

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Past projects:

  • Impact of Neurotechnology (2020-2021)

Short call to advise the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Safety about the impact of Neurotechnologies in the future. Together with the Faculty of Law of the University of Utrecht, we investigated the risks and benefits of neurotechnology, now and in the future. 

  • Language in Interaction (2015-2021)

NWO Consortium Gravitation Grant with a work package awarded to Nick Ramsey. In this work package, we investigated the language system, the interplay with different cognitive systems and speech production using ECoG and fMRI signals.

  • NeuroShirt (2017-2019)

The UMC Utrecht and Elitac developed a neuro navigation in a shirt that uses vibrations to guide the neurosurgeon during surgery.

Other past projects

Upcoming projects...

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