About TCNL
The Tactile Communication & Neurorehabilitation Laboratory (TCNL) is an interdisciplinary academic center studying the theory and application of neuroplasticity for sensory substitution and nonvasive neuromodulation. Some definitions:
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reorganize its operation in response to new information sources, new functional needs, or new communication pathways. Neuroplasticity is a process underlying all learning, training, and rehabilitation.
Sensory substitution is using one human sense to receive and process information normally communicated by a different sense. Familiar examples are a long cane for navigation, or Braille for reading by a person who is blind. The TCNL focuses primarily on the research and development of devices that use the tactile sense (touch) to substitute or augment information for applications to loss of vision, balance control, hearing, and situational awareness. More on sensory substitution...
Neuromodulation is the use of external tactile stimulation to intentionally change and regulate the internal electrochemical environment of the brain. Practical application of noninvasive neuromodulation may significantly improve and sustain functional brain rehabilitation for recovery from neurological disorders of traumatic, degenerative, developmental, chemical, or unknown origin. Target applications under investigation include enhanced rehabilitation for head trauma, stroke, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, autism, dyspraxia, Alzheimer’s, and mental disorders. More on neuromodulation...
Please also see our background section for more information about sensory substitution, tactile displays, neurorehabilitation, and neuromoduation, including our new method called cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM). General information on neuroscience may be found in the Brain Facts primer by the Society for Neuroscience.
Why TCNL research may be of interest to you
Most of the above applications are still experimental and not available for clinical use. However, if you have a balance disorder or blindness you may wish to contact Wicab, Inc. for information on their BrainPort™ Balance Device and BrainPort™ Vision Device.
Please watch our contact and support pages for opportunities to participate in experimental research at TCNL as a volunteer subject/patient, student, or supporter. TCNL research activities are summarized on the projects page.
The TCNL research program
TCNL conducts research in applied neuroplasticity to aid persons with neurological sensory and motor disorders. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reorganize its operation in response to new information sources, new functional needs, or new communication pathways. Regardless of the particular etiology, symptoms, or method of intervention, neuroplasticity is at the heart of successful neurorehabilitation. Our aim is to enhance the rehabilitation process by making neuroplastic changes more substantial and efficient. The outcome, supported by over a decade of previous research spanning proof-of-concept experiments to commercialization and FDA clinical trials, will be:
- Faster and more complete rehabilitation from neurological sensory and motor disorders
- Improvement of existing physical and cognitive therapeutic regimens
- Enablement of new therapy for conditions presently affording few or no options
- Enablement of late functional rehabilitation, years post-acute
- Transfer of the primary site of post-acute rehabilitation from clinic to home
Three core areas form the backbone of TCNL research:
- Treatment of neurological dysfunction by safe, non-invasive stimulation of the facial and trigeminal cranial nerves in conjunction with targeted physical and cognitive exercises
- Sensory substitution and augmentation of vision, hearing, and touch by using tactile displays based on electrical stimulation of touch
- Development of practical electrotactile display methods for both information display and neuromodulation
Specific activities supporting TCNL’s mission and core research areas include:
- Development of enhanced-neuroplasticity-based therapies for specifically-targeted neurological disorders, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, cerebral palsy, spino-cerebellar ataxia.
- Development of portable non-invasive neuromodulation devices for use in collaborating labs and clinics as well as patient’s homes
- Development and testing of theory about underlying processes involved in neuroplasticity as enabled and/or enhanced by non-invasive neuromodulation and sensory substitution
- Development of improved functional and physiological assessment techniques for quantifying the beneficial effects of plasticity-enhanced neurorehabilitation
- Development and testing of advanced sensory substitution and neurorehabilitation devices and methods
This information was updated 3/31/2010.