María López Valdés is Bachelor and Master in Mathematics from the University of Zaragoza, is Doctor of Computer Engineering from the University of Zaragoza Y MBA (Master in Business Administration) by the IE Business School. In addition, she has been a visiting researcher at Iowa State University (USA) and at the University of Freiburg (Germany) and her research has been awarded the Google Anita Borg Prize. In 2011 he left his job at the University to found BitBrain Technologies, a company that currently has twelve researchers and has won important awards in recognition of the innovation provided by its lines of research.
What is BitBrain and how the company arises from the University
BitBrain is a spin-off company that emerged as a result of a line of research led by my partner Javier Mínguez. Basically, what we were doing was decoding brain signals for use in a robot control environment. In this way, the second prototype of the world of wheelchairs controlled by the mind or the first prototype of the world of a robot teleoperated with the mind was built. As a result of these investigations, a great media interest arose and everyone started asking us when this technology was going to reach society. The first problem is that the truth is that the control of robots with the mind is not something so easy to use and that is, to select a destination with the mind we needed almost 3 minutes. So we began to turn it over other applications of technology and in the field of health we saw that it could be very interesting. The second problem was how to make the transfer from the University to society, so we decided to set up a spin-off company.
How BitBrain helps the analysis of children with ADHD
From the beginning, our idea was to attack the problem of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There was already enough scientific evidence that a therapy based on neurofeedback could be useful to significantly reduce symptoms. However, we began to study the problem and the truth is that it is not so simple to implement. The first difficulty we encounter is that each brain is unique. The studies of classic neurofeedback are carried out with samples of very large children who are tried to teach to regulate certain cerebral rhythms. On average, these studies give some positive results. However, when the sample is smaller, you encounter the problem that both the rhythms that the child must learn to self-regulate, and how to do it must be different in order to succeed. So, we have been researching, and we continue to do so, to locate those rhythms individually and to be able to offer a therapy that not only works on average, but works individually for each child.
What is the work with children with ADHD?
We are currently in the research phase with a study, which is completely free, and which consists of the following:
- A battery of psychological tests to diagnose ADHD and rule out other pathologies. Being a scientific study it is essential that children do not have other pathologies, because then the data would not be comparable
- A brain signal test to study if we are able, in that particular child, to find the rhythms to be modified. At the moment, we are not able to find them at all, around 50% pass this phase. This is common in research although we hope to improve this percentage as we treat children
- If the child passes this previous filter, it is also necessary that he is not medicated, then the intervention begins
The intervention consists of 20 sessions where sensors are placed on the head of the child that collect the brain signal. In real time, a computer program that we have designed paints a square on the computer screen that changes color as the child activates the brain rhythms of interest. In this way, the instruction for the child is very easy: "Try to think about things so that the square that appears on the screen turns red."
Children know how to work with this idea: it's like a game for them. However, what is really happening is that, when the child activates the rhythms to be changed properly, the square turns red. That is to say, that "game" of putting the square in red is in the background a way to make the child activate the cerebral rhythms properly. In the end, training those rhythms causes the child's brain signal to normalize and that change translates into an improvement in the day-to-day life of the child with ADHD.
What professionals help you in therapy with children with the disorder
We only put the technology, in the end those who deal with children are mainly psychologists. Your job is essential for the treatment to work. In the end, in this type of intervention, the child has to work: it is a work of self-regulation of the brain signal, if the child does not want to participate in the “game” of putting the red square, the intervention it's no use. So, all the motivational work that the team of psychologists does with the children is essential. It is also essential to support the surrounding environment of children.
What other projects are you developing in BitBrain related
BitBrain is a very small company with very few resources. These types of studies are expensive in time and money, so currently the only study we have with children is that of ADHD. However, we are waiting for the resolution of a project funded by the European Commission to work with autistic children and we cross our fingers to get it!
With older we have a practically finished study with patients with depression. Using the same type of intervention, we have managed to cognitively improve 50 patients with depression.
What other countries are working with this type of technologies?
Virtually all over the world there are research groups working with these technologies. Neuroscience is an exciting research field and technology is needed for its study. However, the United States is leading the study with invasive technologies: operations to implant sensors in the brain, while in Europe we have opted more for non-invasive technologies such as ours.
What utilities can be applied about "moving things with the brain"
These types of applications are still far from being useful since the protocols are not natural. I explain, when you move a robot to the right you are not thinking without more "move to the right", it is much more complicated than that and for that reason, we are still far from an application of neurotechnology in that area. Now, doing research on a problem as difficult as that is, makes you advance in knowledge that can be applied more in the short term in other areas.
What plans does Bitbrain have for the future
Continue working and researching what we are passionate about: applied neuroscience and making all that knowledge useful as soon as possible, creating the appropriate distribution channels so that anyone can benefit from all this knowledge.
And here the interview with Maria Lopez. We thank you very much for your attention with Peques y Más and that you have taken time to explain many details of this project. I met Bitbrain because the jury of the 2012 Entrepreneurs Award of the Everis Foundation He considered that the BitBrain project, led by the engineers María López and Javier Mínguez, was the best in addition to having the value of being a company that has emerged from the University and has moved to the private sector taking advantage of the talent of the teams and the possibilities Project business.
In this video you can see Maria and Javier after receiving the Everis Foundation award.
