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Hillel Chiel, PhD

Photo courtesy of Mike Sands

Hillel Chiel, PhD
Professor of Biology
Professor of Neurosciences
Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

How do the brain and body work together to generate adaptive behavior, i.e., behavior that allows animals to survive and reproduce? Our laboratory addresses this question through the use of multiple approaches, including neurophysiology, modeling, computer simulation, and novel techniques for characterizing the biomechanics and neural control of the feeding apparatus of the marine mollusk, Aplysia californica. We have used magnetic resonance imaging to visualize movements of the feeding musculature in intact, behaving animals, and computer simulation to create three-dimensional models of the musculature. We have extended these studies through the creation of models of the feeding apparatus that incorporate forces and neural control, and have tested the predictions of these models through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Another way in which we have tested hypothesis about the function of the mechanical system is by constructing biologically-inspired robots. At the same time, we have begun to develop novel techniques for wirelessly recording and stimulating neurons in intact, behaving animals. These studies are providing insights into the biological principles that underlie adaptive behavior, and into the design of biologically-inspired artificial devices that will have the flexibility of animals.

Three short movies from our research:

Selected Publications

Mangan, EV, Kingsley, DA, Quinn, RD, Sutton, GP, Mansour, JM, and Chiel, HJ. 2005. A biologically inspired gripping device. Industrial Robot 32: 49-54.

Sutton, GP, Mangan, EV, Neustadter, DM, Beer, RD, Crago, PE, and Chiel, HJ. 2004. Neural control exploits changing mechanical advantage and context dependence to generate different feeding responses in Aplysia. Biol Cybern 91: 333-345.

Sutton GP, Macknin JB, Gartman SS, Sunny GP, Beer RD, Crago PE, Neustadter DM, and Chiel HJ. 2004. Passive hinge forces in the feeding apparatus of Aplysia aid retraction during biting but not during swallowing. J Comp Physiol A 190: 501-514.

Neustadter, DM, and Chiel, HJ. 2004. Imaging freely moving subjects using continuous interleaved orthogonal magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 22: 329-343.

Chestek, C, Samsukha, P, Tabib-Azar, M, Harrison, R, Chiel, H, and Garverick, S. Wireless multi-channel sensor for neurodynamic studies. Third IEEE International Conference on Sensors, Vienna, Austria, October 24-27, 2004.

Neustadter, DM, Drushel, RF, Crago, PE, Adams, BW, and Chiel, HJ. 2002. A kinematic model of swallowing in Aplysia californica based on radula/odontophore kinematics and in vivo MRI. Journal of Experimental Biology 205: 3177-3206.

Mangan, EV, Kingsley, DA, Quinn, RD, and Chiel, HJ. 2002. Development of a peristaltic endoscope. International Congress on Robotics and Automation 2002, pp. 347-352.

Drushel, RF, Sutton, GP, Neustadter, DM, Mangan, EV, Adams, BW, Crago, PE and Chiel, HJ. 2002. Radula-centric and odontophore-centric kinematic models of swallowing in Aplysia. Journal of Experimental Biology 205: 2029-2051.

Neustadter, DM, Drushel, RF, and Chiel, HJ. 2002. Kinematics of the buccal mass during swallowing based on magnetic resonance imaging in intact, behaving Aplysia californica. Journal of Experimental Biology 205: 939-958.

Contact Information

Office:DeGrace Hall, Room 304
Phone:(216) 368-3846
Email:hillel.chiel@case.edu
 
 
 

http://www.case.edu/artsci/biol/