Sukrith Sriram Vedapuram
BME MS Thesis Defense Presentation
Date: 2025-04-17
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location / Meeting Link: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/91893463266

Committee Members:
Dr. Christopher Rodgers (Advisor); Dr. Garrett Stanley; Dr. Alan Emanuel


Title: Investigating auditory spatial behavior using closed-loop modulation of auditory stimuli and neural activity

Abstract:
Advances in brain-machine interface (BMI) technology, including functional electrical stimulation and real-time decoding algorithms, have enabled the stimulation of sensory feedback in individuals with sensorimotor disorders such as stroke or spinal cord injury. To develop auditory BMIs capable of providing more naturalistic stimulation for hearing, it is essential to understand how auditory pathways in the brain respond to real-time stimulation while integrating feedback from behavioral inputs. This study presents a closed-loop behavioral control system designed to modulate activity in the auditory pathways of lab mice in real time within the context of an auditory sound-seeking task in which they have to navigate an octagonal maze to locate sounds. The closed-loop control software processes live video of the experiments, tracking the mice’s movements to manipulate when sounds play during the task. Additionally, the study examines the effects of optically stimulating neural activity in brain regions such as the auditory cortex using optogenetic agents in a head-fixed setup with LED light sources. By investigating the behavioral and neural effects of real-time auditory and optogenetic stimulation, this research provides insight into the influence of neural activity and movement on spatial hearing. The outcomes of this study could contribute to the future development of auditory BMIs designed to assist individuals with conditions such as hearing loss.