MAESTRO 16 / NSC

Project Leader: Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski

Project title: Optical measurements of retinal neuronal responses

The human eye contains the retina, which is part of the brain’s neural network and can be studied using non-invasive optical methods. The retina has well-defined inputs (photoreceptors) and outputs (nerve fibers connecting the eye to the brain), and the neuronal circuits within its structure are well understood. This makes it possible to monitor the activity of neurons in response to photoreceptor stimulation, and optical methods allow for their observation.

The goal of the project is to develop methods that allow non-invasive reading of the functional state of retinal neuronal circuits, both in terms of inputs and outputs. This research could pave the way for the development of a brain-computer interface that uses biological computational systems, shaped over millions of years of evolution, to perform computations.

We aim to answer a key question: is it possible to obtain information about the functional state of retinal neurons using optical methods? If so, we could utilize biological neural networks in the human body to perform computations and inferences, which would enable the creation of more efficient computational systems. By synchronizing biological computational units, we could potentially increase the speed and energy efficiency of data processing. The first step is to develop the appropriate methodology and tools that will allow us to non-invasively and contactlessly read neuronal cell activity.

The total funding of the project is 4 238 874 PLN.