Dr. Cynthia Chestek

Cindy Chestek, Ph.D.

Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Professor of Robotics
2800 Plymouth
B10-A171, NCRC
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800
734- 763-1759
 

Areas of Interest

Dr. Chestek’s research focuses on brain machine interface (BMI) systems using 100 channel arrays implanted in motor and pre-motor cortex. The goal of this research is to eventually develop clinically viable systems to enable paralyzed individuals to control prosthetic limbs, as well as their own limbs using functional electrical stimulation and assistive exoskeletons. To move towards arm control, she is particularly interested in algorithms that better model the non-linear relationship between neural activity and the complex biomechanics of the arm. Other research areas include developing mitigation strategies for non-stationarities in neural recordings over time, and implantable wireless systems. Such systems can eliminate the transcutaneous infection risk associated with current BMIs, as well as expand the number of independent channels in the neural interface.

Published Articles or Reviews

  • Huan Y, Gill JP, Fritzinger JB, Patel PR, Richie JM, Della Valle E, Weiland JD, Chestek CA, Chiel HJ. Carbon fiber electrodes for intracellular recording and stimulation. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2021 Dec 14;18(6):066033. pdf
  • della Valle E, Koo B, Patel PR, Whitsitt Q, Purcell EK, Chestek CA, Weiland JD. Electrodeposited Platinum Iridium Enables Microstimulation With Carbon Fiber Electrodes. Frontiers in Nanotechnology. 2021 Dec 2;3:91. pdf
  • Willsey MS, Mossner JM, Chestek CA, Sagher O, Patil PG. Classifier Using Pontine Radial Diffusivity and Symptom Duration Accurately Predicts Recurrence of Trigeminal Neuralgia After Microvascular Decompression: A Pilot Study and Algorithm Description. Neurosurgery. 2021 Nov;89(5):777-83. pdf
  • Richie JM, Patel PR, Welle EJ, Dong T, Chen L, Shih AJ, Chestek CA. Open-source Toolkit: Benchtop Carbon Fiber Microelectrode Array for Nerve Recording. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments). 2021 Oct 29(176):e63099. pdf materials list

Web Sites