Research Interests
The Neural Engineering Laboratory at the University of Oklahoma focuses on
research toward two major mutually supportive goals:
Neural Interface Development
The goal of neural prosthetic research is to develop methods, techniques, and devices to provide a stable and permanent interface with the central nervous system. The Neural Engineering Lab at OU is developing a "Micro-Neural Interface" (MNI) system. The MNI system is an array of independent, wirelessly powered probes with on-board signal conditioning circuits, spike detection and wireless communication. The MNI system will allow researchers and clinicians to monitor neural activity within and across multiple brain structures.
Neural Coding
The Neural Engineering lab investigates how complex stimuli are encoded by auditory and olfactory cortical structures. Using psychophysics and chronic multi-channel neural recording methods, the lab systematically investigates the neural representation of sensory information.
Laboratory News
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05/2009:
Dr. Rennaker was officially awarded tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor by the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma effective July 1, 2009. 05/2009:
Dr. Rennaker was awarded the Presidential Associate's Presidential Professorship 05/2009:
NIH R01 Award: "Development of a Distributed Neural Interface"; NINDS 05/2009-04/2012 04/2009
Doyle Dodd: Successfully defended his general examination; 02/2009
Dr. Andrew Sloan: Successfully defended his Ph.D. Dissertation; 12/2008
Barnes D. Hofacer R., Zaman A., Rennaker R.L, Wilson D.; Olfactory perceptual stability and discrimination. Nature Neuroscience, December 2008 11(12): 1378-80 03/2008
NIH R01 Award: "ENSEMBLE CODING IN OLFACTORY CORTEX"; 07/01/2008- 06/31/2013