The University of Toronto is breaking new ground in undergraduate education with the introduction of a cutting-edge course, Interfacing and Modulating the Nervous System (ECE441), offering fourth-year students a deep dive into the world of brain-machine interfaces and neuromodulation. The course, hosted by the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, is designed to equip students with knowledge about signal processing, control theory, electronics, and machine learning in the context of neuromodulation.
Led by Assistant Professor Xilin Liu and Ervin Sejdić, in collaboration with the CRANIA Neuromodulation Institute, the course provides hands-on experience in neural interfacing techniques. This multidisciplinary area is crucial for understanding and implementing devices that deliver therapeutic stimulation to specific areas of the brain, treating various conditions such as chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, depression, spinal cord injuries, and sensory impairments.
Students in the course, like Jannis Gabler and Aurora Nowicki, are exposed to real-world applications of neuromodulation. In one lab session, they measured electrical activity in the visual cortex, demonstrating the capability to discern whether a team member’s eyes were open or closed just by analyzing the data from his signature.
The course material combines Liu’s expertise in electronics and neural interfacing with Sejdić’s work on signal processing, control theory, and machine learning. Guest lecturers, including renowned experts like Milos Popovic and Taufik Valiante, provide additional insights into the clinical applications of neuromodulation.
The unique aspect of this course lies in its focus on undergraduates, differentiating it from similar courses offered at institutions like MIT and Stanford, which typically target graduate students. Liu emphasizes the importance of hands-on experiments, allowing students to collect, analyze, and modulate their own EEG signals in real-time using biosensing headsets provided by the department.
Beyond the classroom, students embark on off-campus excursions to hospitals like Toronto Western Hospital, where they gain insights from neurosurgeons and neuroscientists into real-world advancements in the field. These experiences, combined with the challenging coursework, offer a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and potential applications of neuromodulation.
As the field of neurotechnology continues to expand rapidly, the electrical and computer engineering department at U of T plans to further enrich its course offerings in neurotechnology. The department aims to make equipment accessible to students outside the class, fostering additional learning opportunities through workshops and hands-on sessions organized in collaboration with the student club NeuroTECH.
Deepa Kundur, professor and department chair, praises the course for bringing cutting-edge applications into the classroom, allowing students to explore the vast potential of their electrical and computer engineering skill set. Regardless of their future career paths, students like Aurora Nowicki believe the course transforms the way they perceive the brain and its disorders, offering valuable insights into the innovative solutions clinicians and neuroengineers are developing.
