Brain as CPU

Module 3
• Engineering enhances our understanding of the brain’s complex
functions.
• Innovations like EEG, robotic prosthetics, and DBS improve patient
care.
• Future research can lead to more advanced brain-machine interfaces
and treatment methods.
Brain as a Central Processing Unit
(CPU)
• Brain as Command Center:
• Interprets sensory data and makes decisions.
• Sends instructions to the body’s muscles and organs.
• Comparison to CPU:
• Central Processing Unit: Brain (processes data, controls responses)
• Data Bus: Spinal Cord (transmits signals between brain and body)
• Input Devices: Sensory Organs (eyes, ears, skin — provide environmental
data)
• Output Devices: Muscles and Glands (carry out the brain’s instructions)
• Key Functions:
• Memory storage (like hard drives)
• Data processing and decision-making
• Coordination of voluntary and involuntary actions
Central Nervous System (CNS)
• Overview: The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord.
• Brain Components:
• Cerebrum:
• Largest part of the brain.
• Controls intelligence, memory, sensory interpretation.
• Lobes of the Cerebrum:
• Frontal Lobe: Decision-making, voluntary movement, speech production.
• Parietal Lobe: Processes touch, temperature, and pain sensations.
• Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual processing.
• Temporal Lobe: Interprets sounds and manages memory.
• Cerebellum:
• Coordinates balance and fine motor skills.
• Ensures smooth and accurate movements.
• Brainstem:
• Controls basic life functions like breathing and heartbeat.
• Connects the brain to the spinal cord.
• Spinal Cord:
• Acts as a communication highway between the brain and body.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• Function: Connects the CNS to limbs and organs.
• Divisions:
• Somatic Nervous System:
• Controls voluntary muscle movements.
• Relays sensory information to the CNS.
• Autonomic Nervous System: Controls involuntary functions
(heartbeat, digestion).
• Sympathetic: Prepares body for action (fight-or-flight response).
• Parasympathetic: Calms the body (rest-and-digest response).
Signal Transmission in the Nervous System

• Electrical Signals (Action Potentials):

• Created by ion exchange across neuron membranes.
• Sodium-potassium pump generates electrical impulses.
• Saltatory conduction speeds up signal transmission by jumping between
nodes.

• Chemical Signals (Neurotransmitters):

• Released at synapses to transfer signals between neurons.
• Excitatory Neurotransmitters: Stimulate action (e.g., glutamate).
• Inhibitory Neurotransmitters: Reduce activity (e.g., GABA).
Electroencephalography (EEG)

• Principle: Measures the brain’s electrical activity via scalp electrodes.

• Brainwave Patterns:
• Alpha Waves: Relaxed state, calm wakefulness.
• Beta Waves: Active thinking, problem-solving.
• Theta Waves: Light sleep, meditation.
• Delta Waves: Deep sleep, restorative functions.
• Applications:
• Medical Diagnosis: Detects epilepsy, brain injuries, and sleep disorders.
• Cognitive Research: Studies attention, memory, and emotional states.
• Neurofeedback Therapy: Trains individuals to control brain activity
Robotic Arms for Prosthetics

• Neural Interfaces:
• Myoelectric Control: Uses electrical signals from remaining muscles to
control prosthetic movements.
• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI): Directly interprets brain signals to move the
prosthetic.
• Mechanical Design:
• Constructed with lightweight, biocompatible materials.
• Equipped with precise motors and actuators for fine control.
• Sensory Feedback:
• Haptic Feedback: Provides sensations of touch.
• Proprioceptive Feedback: Helps users sense the position and movement of
the prosthetic.
Engineering Solutions for
Parkinson’s Disease
• Overview: Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting
movement.
• Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS):
• Electrodes implanted in the brain deliver controlled electrical pulses.
• Reduces tremors and rigidity by modulating abnormal neural activity.
• Neuroprosthetics:
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES): Stimulates nerves to enable muscle
movement.
• Exoskeletons: Assist with walking and maintaining posture.
• Machine Learning Applications:
• Predicts symptom progression.
• Personalizes treatment plans based on patient data.
medications
• There are six main types of medications available to treat symptoms
of Parkinson disease:
• levodopa,
• dopamine agonists
• inhibitors of enzymes that inactivate dopamine (monoamine oxidase
type B [MAO B] inhibitors
• catechol-O-methyl transferase [COMT] inhibitors,
• anticholinergic drugs, and
• amantadine
•The Eye as a Camera System
Eye Vs camera
• The human eye works similarly to a camera, focusing light to create
images.
• It consists of various optical components that regulate light entry and
processing.
• Cornea & Lens: Act as the lens of a camera, focusing light.
• Iris & Pupil: Work like the aperture, controlling light entry.
• Retina: Functions like the camera film or sensor, capturing images.
• Optic Nerve: Transmits signals to the brain, similar to digital
processing in cameras
Structure of the Retina
• Macula: The central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision
• The retina contains light-sensitive cells: Rod Cells and Cone Cells.
• These cells convert light into electrical signals for the brain to
interpret.
Architecture of Rod and Cone
Cells
• Rod Cells:
• Highly sensitive to low light (night vision).
• Do not detect color.
• Found in the peripheral regions of the retina.
• Cone Cells:
• Detect colors (red, green, and blue).
• Work best in bright light.
• Concentrated in the macula, especially in the fovea.
Optical Corrections in Vision
• Myopia (Nearsightedness): Eye is too long, causing distant objects to
blur. Fixed with concave lenses.
• Hyperopia (Farsightedness): Eye is too short, making near objects
blurry. Fixed with convex lenses.
• Astigmatism: Irregular cornea shape causes blurred vision. Corrected
with cylindrical lenses.
• Presbyopia: Age-related loss of near vision, corrected with bifocal or
progressive lenses.
Cataract – Clouding of the Lens
• What is Cataract? A condition where the eye’s natural lens becomes
cloudy, reducing vision.
• Causes: Aging, UV exposure, diabetes, smoking, and genetics.
• Symptoms: Blurry vision, faded colors, halos around lights.
• Treatment: Surgical replacement with an artificial intraocular lens
(IOL).
 Lens Materials for Cataract Surgery
• Monofocal Lenses: Provide clear vision at one distance (near or far).
• Multifocal Lenses: Allow both near and distant vision.
• Toric Lenses: Correct astigmatism.
• Material Types: Silicone, acrylic, and PMMA (polymethyl
methacrylate).
The Bionic Eye – Restoring
Vision
• What is a Bionic Eye? A bioelectronic implant that helps restore vision
in people with blindness.
• Types of Bionic Eyes:
• Retinal Implants: Replace damaged photoreceptors.
• Optic Nerve Implants: Stimulate the optic nerve directly.
• Cortical Implants: Send signals to the brain’s visual cortex.
• Current Challenges: High costs, limited resolution, and adaptation
period.