Dimension 4: Neuromorphic control

The 8 dimensions of NeurotechEU include a range of topics, from research and treatments to ethical questions about how we use technology to interact with the brain. The objective in defining these 8 dimensions is to work on what the Alliance defines as ‘neurochallenges’. Neurorobotics – also known as neuromorphic control – is the fourth dimension of NeurotechEU. Its goal is to reduce the burden on the body's central control systems by enhancing the implicit computing potential offered by the biomechanical properties of biological bodies. Thus, this fourth dimension seeks to optimise ways of distributing the workload between the brain and the body to achieve greater efficiency in complex tasks or movements.

However, before going one step further, it is necessary to have an overview of the current point that the neurorobotic research field is at, to evaluate if the technological advancements and solutions are addressing societal and environmental challenges, and to offer useful knowledge and insights to policymakers, funding agencies, and institutions. With those objectives in mind, according to the researcher of the Boğaziçi University -an allied member of NeurotechEU- Sinan Öncü: “NeurotechEU is working on a study centered on bibliometric data analysis using data from 2022 to 2024, sourced from scientific databases.

The Neurorobotics dimension of NeurotechEU is also being addressed through different learning courses that are available Campus +, the learning platform of the Alliance.

8 Dimensions of NeurotechEU

The eight dimensions of NeurotechEU cover a wide range of topics, from advancing research and treatments to addressing ethical questions related to how technology interacts with the brain, with the objective of creating a bridge between several disciplines. These dimensions aim to tackle what the Alliance identifies as “neurochallenges” – issues that require multidisciplinary approaches at the intersection of neuroscience and neurotechnology.

1. Empirical and clinical neuroscience: Investigating brain function and developing treatments for neurological disorders.
2. Theoretical Neuroscience: Using computational models to explain and predict brain activity.
3. Neuromorphic Computing: Designing computer systems inspired by the brain to enhance efficiency.
4. Neuromorphic Control and Neurorobotics: Creating robots capable of adapting and moving like living beings.
5. Neuroinformatics: Building tools to manage and analyze large-scale brain data.
6. Neuroprosthetics: Developing devices to interface with the brain, restoring or augmenting its functions.
7. Clinical Neurotechnology: Applying digital systems for real-time monitoring and treatment of brain conditions.
8. Neurometaphysics: Exploring ethical, legal, and philosophical issues surrounding the use of neurotechnology.