PhD defence S. (Sadaf) Soloukey Tbalvandany

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Man has always been fascinated by exposing and manipulating the human brain and spinal cord: from the Incas performing ritualistic trepanations, to the first modern neurosurgeons introducing systematic use of electrical stimulation to guide surgeries. In Chapter 1 I argue that much of what is current neurosurgical practice remains similar to techniques used over a century ago, despite technological advancements introducing new tools into the neurosurgical operating room. The work in this thesis is fueled by a fascination for this ambiguity in neurosurgery, aiming to introduce new technological tools to an old-school form of craftsmanship.

Specifically, this thesis focusses on two types of neurotechnology: neuromodulation and (functional) ultrasound imaging of the brain and spinal cord, both applied to clinical and neurosurgical contexts. In three parts, the work clusters itself around specific ‘types of flow’: flow of current, flow of blood and the combination of current & blood flow.