Smarter Neuroprostheses Through Circuit-Guided Neural Stimulation
Speaker: Professor Yan Tat Wong
Head Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
Biomedical Engineering Course Director
Department of Physiology
Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering
Monash University
Smarter Neuroprostheses Through Circuit-Guided Neural Stimulation
Abstract:
Neurobionics—where electrodes interface with the brain to restore sensory and motor function—is rapidly reshaping our ability to treat neurological disorders. Cortical neural prostheses have the potential to compensate for lost function by decoding neural signals or delivering targeted stimulation, yet their widespread adoption is limited by our incomplete understanding of how the brain generates perception and guides action. In this talk, I will present our lab's efforts to bridge this gap by studying how different brain areas coordinate to support tasks like vision and movement. I'll share recent animal studies that exploit canonical microcircuits to enhance the effectiveness of electrical stimulation, including strategies using multi-electrode arrays to steer currents with greater precision. These foundational insights are guiding the development of smarter, more adaptive neural interfaces that can monitor brain state, diagnose dysfunction, and deliver personalized stimulation—bringing us closer to truly restorative neurobionic technologies.
Bio:
Prof. Yan Wong is the Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Course Director. He leads the Monash Vision Group and the Neurobionics Laboratory researching neural implants focussed on using cutting edge neural recording techniques to find ways to improve efficacy.
Yan works to improve vision prostheses to help restore sight, and brain machine interfaces to treat conditions such as limb paralysis. We do this by making discoveries around how populations of neurons communicate across brain areas to form representations of the world, and then design electronics to interact with these populations. This work is highly interdisciplinary and brings together teams from the Medicine and Engineering.
He completed his postdoctoral training at the Center for Neural Science at New York University and holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of New South Wales.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium on Level 7 are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
