GIB

Analysis of neural signals

Oscillatory neural activity reflects the functional brain architecture in real time. Different pathologies, such as Alzheimer Disease, mild cognitive impairment or schizophrenia, modify brain dynamics. This research line is focused on exploring the alterations in the neural activity associated to the previous pathologies, with a threefold purpose:

  • To explore the communication and processing mechanisms of neural information.
  • To identify potential biomarkers.
  • To assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacologic treatments.

    • In order to accomplish these aims, electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals are analyzed by means of different advanced signal processing techniques: spectral and nonlinear methods, neural coupling measures and parameters from complex network theory.

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    Within the framework of this line of research are the following projects:

  • "Computational simulation of the neurodegenerative mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease: decoding the alterations of the neuronal network " (SIMULATIO), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. If you want more information about this project, you can access the following link.
  • "Analysis and correlation between epigenetics and brain activity to assess the risk of chronic and episodic migraine in women" (MIGRAINEE), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the Interreg VA Spain-Portugal Program (POCTEP) 2014-2020. If you want more information about the mentioned project, you can access in the following link.
  • "Analysis and correlation between the complete genome and brain activity for help in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease" (AD-EEGWA), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the Interreg VA Program Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020. If you want more information about the mentioned project, you can access in the following link.
  • "Characterization of neuronal activity in Alzheimer's disease through the theory of complex networks: new biomarkers for early diagnosis" (RED-ALZ), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. If you want more information about the mentioned project, you can access in the following link.

    • Analysis of polysomnographic signals

    Polysomnography is the main source of information to investigate sleep. The automatic analysis of nocturnal cardiorespiratory signals is a very useful approach to detect illnesses such as Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS) as well as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The GIB has developed methods to help in their diagnosis by conducting:

  • Spectral, non-linear, and time-frequency analyses applied to polysomnographic recordings.
  • Machine-learning model building to automatically predict diseases machine learning.'

    • Our research is focused on both adult and children patients. Moreover, we are encouraged in the promotion of interdisciplinary national partnerships in Spain (Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Hospital Universitario de Burgos) as well as international collaborations (Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Pritzker School of Medicine of the University of Chicago).

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    Within the framework of this line of research, three research projects are currently being developed:

  • "Nuevos paradigmas no hospitalarios para la simplificación del diagnóstico de la apnea del sueño. Diseño y desarrollo de un test de screening automático mediante la señal de oximetría" (ScreenOx)", "Nuevos paradigmas no hospitalarios para la simplificación del diagnóstico de la apnea del sueño. Diseño y desarrollo de un test de screening automático mediante la señal de oximetría" (ScreenOx)", funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. If you want more information about this project, you can access the following link.
  • "Simplification of the diagnosis of children's sleep apnea through new cardiorespiratory signal processing techniques" (SIMPLICITY), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. If you want more information about this project, you can access the following link.
  • "Automatic estimation of cognitive ability in children with sleep apnea. Design development and validation of a cognitive impairment test based on the analysis of the night electroencephalogram acquired at home" (COGNITION) ", funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. If you want more information about this project, you can access the following link.

    • Brain-Computer Interface systems

    Brain-Computer Interface systems (BCI) allow users to control applications using their own brain signals.

    Design, development and evaluation of asistive applications

    The main motivation of the BCI systems is focused on increasing the quality of life of those who have a motor disability that limits their ability to communicate by developing asistive applications. In fact, the Biomedical Engineering Group have developed the following projects:

  • Domotic control application.
  • Cognitive training platform.
  • Asynchronous web browser application.

    • Real-time EEG signal processing

    It is also important to develop and test new real-time signal processing methodologies that favor the generalization and the performance of these systems.

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    Within the framework of this line of research, the following project has been developed:

  • "Project CERO in Ageing", funded by the General Foundation CSIC and Obra Social La Caixa and CSIC. If you want more information about the mentioned project, you can access in the following link.
  • "Design, development and evaluation of a cognitive training platform by means of a Brain-Computer Interface system", funded by the International Center on Aging CNIE-POCTEP, with funds from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDEER) through the Interreg VA Program Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-2020.

    • Analysis of retinal images

    Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a visual complication of diabetes and has become an important cause of blindness in industrialised countries. Early diagnosis is paramount to avoid a severe vision loss, but requires patients to undergo regular eye examinations in which digital images of the retina are captured. With the growing incidence of diabetes, the development of automatic methods to analyse these images could be an important aid in the diagnosis of DR. To achieve this goal, the Biomedical Engineering Group is involved in the following projects:

  • Automatic detection of lesions associated with DR in retinal images. These lesions include hard exudates and red lesions.
  • Automatic evaluation of the severity of DR in a patient.

    • Within the framework of this line of research, the following project has been developed:

  • "Automatic analysis of fundus images as an implementation of diabetic retinography screening systems" (A2IFO), funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund. If you want more information about the mentioned project, you can access in the following link.

    • Analysis of intracranial pressure signals

    Hydrocephalus is characterised by clinical symptoms, ventriculomegaly and disorders in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. Infusion tests are routinely used to study CSF dynamics in patients with hydrocephalus. In them, intracranial pressure (ICP) is artificially raised by the injection of fluid in the lumbar CSF space and the resulting pressure is motorized. Infusion tests can be helpful in the decision about the surgical implantation of a CSF shunt in patients with hydrocephalus. However, they are also useful to study cerebral haemodynamics. In the Biomedical Engineering Group, ICP signals recorded during infusion tests are being analysed with two main objectives:

  • To study the spectral and non-linear features of the ICP signal during infusion tests.
  • To determine whether automatic analysis of ICP signals can be helpful in the prediction of the response of patients to shunting.