Neuronal tuning in a brain-machine interface during Reinforcement Learning

Abstract

In this research, we have used neural tuning to quantify the neural representation of prosthetic arm's actions in a new framework of BMI, which is based on Reinforcement Learning (RLBMI). We observed that through closed-loop brain control, the neural representation has changed to encode robot actions that maximize rewards. This is an interesting result because in our paradigm robot actions are directly controlled by a Computer Agent (CA) with reward states compatible with the user's rewards. Through co-adaptation, neural modulation is used to establish the value of robot actions to achieve reward.