BRACCIA
Coordinator
Aneta Stefanovska, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Group of Non-linear Dynamics and Synergetics
Participants
- Czech Republic: Academy of Sciences, Institute of Computer Sciences
- Germany: University of Potsdam, Institute of Complex Systems
- Norway: University of Oslo, Ulleval Hospital
- Slovenia: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine
- Switzerland: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- UK: Lancaster University, Physics Department
- UK: Morecambe Bay Health Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Description
The need for a better understanding of anaesthesia is driven by the enormous medical and societal importance of this technique, without which most modern complex surgical procedures would be impossible. The physiology of anaesthesia is not well understood, however, and the mechanisms causing loss of consciousness remain mysterious.
The Braccia project is exploring ways in which the brain’s electrical activity, especially delta and gamma brain waves, and their interactions with heart and breathing activity, vary with the depth of anaesthesia. The project uses measurements on humans and rats to explore the causal relationships between oscillations in the brain, heart and respiratory system. The first step is to develop a methodology to test for causal relationships between complex systems interacting as a network. Human subjects are monitored while awake and under anaesthesia. The results will be used to develop systems that can model the oscillatory behaviour of human, and more generally mammalian, physiology.
Insights gained by studying the complexities of anaesthesia are relevant to such varied fields as software development, aeronautical engineering and environmental management.