Students in UMO’s Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience course control the movements of their homemade prosthetic hand. (UMO photo)
MOUNT OLIVE — Students in Professor David Shields’ Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience class at the University of Mount Olive are delving into the biological foundations of behavior and cognition. As part of an innovative hands-on curriculum, students learn how the nervous system functions and communicates and how these signals can be harnessed to interact with external objects, such as prosthetics and computer software.
In the early stages of the course, students gain foundational knowledge of the nervous system’s communication network. This theory is applied practically, as students spend several weeks building their own neuroprosthetic hands and connecting them to their nervous systems. Using tiny electrodes placed on the forearm and hand, students can intercept electrical signals from their brains and redirect them to their prosthetic creations, allowing them to visualize how these signals trigger movement. This remarkable demonstration provides a tangible understanding of how human physiology can interface with technology.
“This project helps students see how the nervous system works in real-time,” said Shields. “By intercepting signals from their bodies and directing them to the prosthetics they’ve built, they gain a deeper understanding of how [...]