Thesis defense of Romain BEAUBOIS - December 11th, 2023

Romain BEAUBOIS will defend his thesis on December 11st, 2023 at 14:00 am, (amphi JP. DOM – IMS Laboratory) on the subject : “Real-time biohybrid system with Spiking Neural Network”.

Characterization and modeling of biological neural networks has emerged as a field driving significant advancements in our understanding of brain function and related pathologies. As of today, pharmacological treatments for neurological disorders remain limited, pushing the exploration of promising alternative approaches such as electroceutics. Recent research in bioelectronics and neuromorphic engineering have led to the design of the new generation of neuroprostheses for brain repair. However, its complete development requires deeper understanding and expertise in biohybrid interaction. Here, this thesis work shows a novel real-time, biomimetic, cost-effective and user-friendly neural network for bio-hybrid experiments and real-time emulation.

This thesis work allows investigation and reproduction of biophysically detailed neural network dynamics while promoting cost-efficiency, flexibility and ease of use. It showcases the feasibility of conducting biohybrid experiments using standard biophysical interfaces and various biological cells as well as real-time emulation of complex models.

The system developed in this work is anticipated to be a step towards developing neuromorphic-based neuroprostheses for bioelectrical therapeutics by enabling communication with biological networks on a similar time scale, facilitated by an easy-to-use and accessible embedded real-time system. The real-time device developed further enhances its potential for practical applications in biohybrid experiments.