Hand, Brain and Technology 2018

Conference Abstract

The tight functional coupling between hand and brain has made man "the most intelligent of animals" (Anaxagoras) and has greatly shaped the evolution of language, culture and technology. Any reduction or loss of hand function, whether of central or peripheral origin, has devastating effects on the independence and social integration of the affected individual. Any treatment, be it through human or technological intervention, must account for this unique coupling. As a result, hand and brain have drawn strong interest from the social, medical and engineering sciences alike. 

Of utmost relevance and increasing interest in the scientific community is the role of somatosensation – specifically the perception of touch, position and motion of the limbs – in the interaction between hand, brain and technology. Somatosensory errors drive motor learning, and motor deficits observed after neurological injury may have somatosensory origin. As such, somatosensory deficits may hinder recovery and alter the central representation of our limbs and body, and a lack of somatosensory feedback limits the use of advanced robotic prostheses. In order to successfully provide assistance, therapy and restoration of sensorimotor function in patient populations, the role of the somatosensory system in the interaction between hand and brain as well as sensorimotor and cognitive function needs to be better understood.

Conference Objectives

• Bring together leading researchers from the various disciplines investigating the somatosensory system, its role in motor function and recovery after neuromuscular injury, as well as its restoration 
• Change the dynamics of the field to become more integrative, by promoting interaction and collaboration between neuroscientists, physiologists, psychologists, clinicians, and engineers 
• Provide the opportunity for junior and advanced researchers to disseminate their work and interact with senior researchers (through talks followed by ample time for discussion, poster sessions, roundtables and personal interactions during breaks and social events) 
• Provide an update on the state of the art, highlight recent discoveries and identify future research directions

Special Lecture

external pageLeah Krubitzercall_made, PhD, University of California, Davis, USA
Evolution of the forelimb and cortical areas associated with limb use in mammals.

Public Lecture

external pageVincent Haywardcall_made, PhD, Sorbonne Université, France, and University of London, United Kingdom
external pagePeter Bruggercall_made, PhD, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
More Than Skin Deep: What haptic illusions can teach about the brain

Confirmed Keynote Speakers

• external pageSalvatore M. Aglioticall_made, MD, Sapienza University of Rome and IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia Rome, Italy
  Vicarious experience of painful, pleasant, and intimate touch through immersive virtual reality
• external pageRichard A. Andersencall_made, PhD, Caltech, USA
  Advancing Neuroprosthetics with High-Dimensional Control and Stimulation Induced Somatosensory Feedback
• external pageSliman Bensmaiacall_made, PhD, University of Chicago, USA
  Toward the neural basis of stereognosis: Neural coding of hand proprioception and touch
  
• external pageIngvars Birzniekscall_made, PhD, University of New South Wales, Australia
  Talking to the brain in its own language
• external pageGregory A. Clarkcall_made, PhD, University of Utah, USA
  Restoring High-resolution, Biofidelic Somatosensory Feedback in Humans After Hand Amputation
• external pageFrédérique de Vignemontcall_made, PhD, CNRS, Jean Nicod Institute, France
  Stretching the body: Can one tickle a tool?
  
• external pageHubert Dinsecall_made, PhD, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
  Brains at your fingertips - Driving human plasticity and learning through sensory stimulation
• external pageAldo Faisalcall_made, PhD, Imperial College London, UK
  Towards understanding the dynamical representations for hand control
  
• external pageAlessandro Farnècall_made, PhD, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, France
  Grasping and Sensing the World through Tools
• external pageMartin H. Fischercall_made, PhD, University of Potsdam, Germany
  Numbers are handy concepts
• external pageRobert Gauntcall_made, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, USA
  Microstimulation of the human cortex to restore somatosensation
• external pageVincent Haywardcall_made, PhD, Sorbonne Université, France, and University of London, United Kingdom
  Tactile Mechanics
• external pageDaniel Hubercall_made, PhD, University of Geneva, Switzerland
  Frequency selective encoding of substrate vibrations in the somatosensory cortex
  
• external pageRoland Johanssoncall_made, MD, PhD, Umea University, Sweden
  Fast and accurate macrogeometric tactile processing during object manipulation
• external pageAlain Kaelin-Langcall_made, MD, PhD, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Switzerland
  Neurological disorders of the hand: the neglected role of somatosensory inputs
• external pageDerek Kampercall_made, PhD, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
  Sensory feedback of movement/force characteristics in motor cortex during passive hand movement
• external pageKatherine J. Kuchenbeckercall_made, PhD, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Germany
  Tactile Reality for Tool-Mediated Interactions
• external pageTamar Makincall_made, PhD, University College London, United Kingdom
  Hand plasticity: Use-dependent S1 reorganisation in amputees
• external pageMackenzie Mathiscall_made, PhD, Harvard University, USA
  Somatosensory Cortex Plays an Essential Role in Forelimb Motor Adaptation in Mice
• external pageSilvestro Miceracall_made, PhD, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
  The quest for a bionic hand: Recent achievements and future perspectives
• external pageLee Millercall_made, PhD, Northwestern University and RIC, USA
  Restoring Proprioception via Cortical Stimulation: Challenges and Insights from Simultaneous Stimulation and Recording
• Mike D. Rinderknecht, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
  Rapid Assessment and Adaptive Therapy of Proprioceptive Hand Function After Stroke
• external pageFabrice R. Sarlegnacall_made, PhD, CNRS & Aix-Marseille University, France
  Loss of Proprioception Impacts Perception, Action and Cognition: Evidence from Deafferented Patients
• external pageHans Scherbergercall_made, MD, PhD, German Primate Center and Georg August University of Göttingen, Germany
  Cortical sensory processing for grasping in primates
• external pageStephen H. Scottcall_made, PhD, Queen’s University, Canada
  Use of robots to study brain function and dysfunction
• external pageDustin Tylercall_made, PhD, Case Western Reserve University, USA
  The Human-Technology Interface in the Periphery: Decoding, Encoding, and the Psychosocial Aspects of Long-Term Integration with the Sensorimotor System

Sponsors/Supporters

We greatfully acknowledge the financial support by the Congressi Stefano Franscini, the Swiss National Science Foundation and ETH Zurich, as well as all of our sponsors/supporters.

Clinical/Scientific Partners

As in 2014, we again have the pleasure of organizing the HBT 2018 conference in partnership and with the support of the external pageClinica Hildebrand Centro di Riabilitazione Brissagocall_made. We further gratefully acknowledge the support of the external pageRehaklinik Bellikoncall_made as our scientific and second clinical partner.

The Swiss Society for Biomedical Engineering is supporting the Hand, Brain and Technology 2018 conference with four conference fee waivers for SSBE members. To apply, mention your SSBE membership in the email of your conference abstract submission.