Brain-Machine Interfaces: A team-taught seminar bridging disciplines and fostering discussions

This paper describes an honors seminar on brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) taught at the University of Saint Thomas, in Saint Paul, MN. Team taught by professors in psychology and engineering, the seminar examined the applications and limitations of brain-machine interfaces from both neuroscience and engineering perspectives. The first half of the course consisted of lectures and instructor-facilitated discussions about the mechanics of brain circuitry, diseases and disorders of the nervous system, and basic electrical recording techniques. In the second half of the course, students presented formal lectures on innovations in BMI technology and discussed the ethics of such technology. Students were evaluated on weekly writing assignments, discussions, and formal oral presentations. Overall, the focus on BMI technology captivated students because of its immediate relevance to medical and military technology, and encouraged extensive and critical dialogues about the need for interdisciplinary groups to monitor this technology. This paper describes the course structure and content, quantitative and qualitative student feedback, and offers guidelines for designing a similar course.