DARPA wants injured brains to rewire and repair themselves as the US military confronts traumatic brain injuries
The Pentagon's research arm wants new, noninvasive ways to help injured brains heal themselves.
The U.S. military's research agency, DARPA, is working on a new program called SHINE, which aims to help injured brains repair and rewire themselves after traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs are a significant concern for the military, particularly given the recent rise in TBI rates among troops involved in combat operations. DARPA's program, Selective Harnessing of Intrinsic Neuroplasticity Engineering, seeks to develop noninvasive tools that can enhance the brain's ability to adapt and rewire itself specifically to affected neural circuits, avoiding global changes and unwanted side effects.
The research could have important implications for both military personnel and other Americans exposed to traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, as existing approaches generally don't isolate the circuits affected by an injury. DARPA's SHINE program could pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments for TBIs, improving cognitive performance and overall brain health over the long term.
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