Awarded in 2025
Home Department: Electrical Engineering
Faculty Advisors: Paul Nuyujukian (Bioengineering and Neurosurgery) and Monroe Kennedy (Mechanical Engineering)

Research Title: Studying Computation Capacity of Motor Cortex Using a Spiking Neural Network Based Robotic System

Biological neural networks exhibit significantly greater capability and resilience than artificial neural networks. However, how this capability and resilience are achieved over individual neurons remains unknown. To address this key barrier, Yuxin will leverage spiking neural networks (SNNs), neuromorphic chips, and robotics systems to conduct comparison studies between computational models and awake, behaving animals. She proposes to engineer an SNN-based robotic experimental platform able to test hypotheses of the control strategies adopted by brains, as well as the recovery process after brain injuries. This study has value for both basic neuroscience research and future neuroprosthetic applications.