Imec research lab to understand the human brain

Brain technology research labs callled Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders (NERF) have been inaugurated on the Imec campus in Leuven. 

NERF, which is supported by Imec, VIB and K.U.Leuven and funded by the Flemish government, will carry out research in nanoelectronics, biotechnology and neurology with a view to unravellling the workings of the brain.

The opening in the presence of Ingrid Lieten, Flemish Minister of Innovation, Public Procurement, the Media and Combatting Poverty, coincided with the launch of the European Human Brain Project.

NERF will also contribute to the prestigious Human Brain Project, one of the six projects on the shortlist of the European Flagship Programme which will get off the ground next year. 

Of the projects on the shortlist, two will be selected which as a Flagship project will receive significant European and national support for a period of ten years. 

The aim of the Human Brain Project, led by the Swiss EPFL, is to bring together in huge databanks everything we know and all we can learn about the workings of brain molecules, cells and connections.

It is hoped that this will serve as a basis for making biologically extremely accurate and detailed simulations of the entire human brain with the aid of informatics, modelling and supercomputing.

IMEC is also working with the Holst Centre in the Netherlands on wireless EEG (electroencephalogram) systems for continuous ambulatory monitoring.

They have demonstrated an EEG headset which records signals and wirelessly transmits the data in real-time to a receiver located up to 10m away.

"Applications that can be envisaged with this EEG prototype system include entertainment and infotainment, for example adaptive game environment reacting to the player's cognitive state, or e-learning where the difficulty can be adapted based on cognitive load; lifestyle, such as neuro-feedback; safety, for example monitoring drowsiness of drivers or cognitive load of occupational health services in action; and medical such as early warning system for epileptic patients or brain typing enabling people with motor disabilities to communicate," said IMEC.