Neural engineering

The Neural Engineering ( engl. neural engineering) is a relatively young research discipline that uses engineering methods to both investigate the function of the nervous system, as well as to support this and influence. The high level of interdisciplinarity of the field can be seen from the fact that there are methods and approaches in clinical neurology ( functional imaging ) and Neurosurgery ( Neuroprosthetics ), theoretical neuroscience ( computational neuroscience and neuro- cybernetics ) with the experimental neurophysiology, electrical engineering, signal processing, automation engineering, computer science, microsystems technology and nanotechnology combines.

The Neural Engineering distinguishes two different approaches: reverse existing neural systems approaches attempt to describe and understand in order to extract technological applications. In contrast, the forward -looking approaches try to develop technologies that will then be used in biological systems. The most important area of research for the latter are the so-called brain -computer interfaces ( Brain-Computer Interface ) or the wide range of neuro- prosthetics.

An increasing number of publications can be grouped under the concept of Neural Engineering, the first specific journals are the Journal of Neural Engineering, Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, and to name the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.