Experiential Learning for Interdisciplinary Education on Vestibular System Models
- Conference
- Location
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Baltimore , Maryland
- Publication Date
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June 25, 2023
- Start Date
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June 25, 2023
- End Date
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June 28, 2023
- Conference Session
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Multidisciplinary Engineering Division (MULTI) Technical Session 6
- Tagged Division
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Multidisciplinary Engineering Division (MULTI)
- Tagged Topic
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Diversity
- Page Count
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22
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--43558
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/43558
- Download Count
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411
Paper Authors
Masoumeh Farhadi Nia University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Masoumeh Farhadi Nia is a Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her research focuses on signal, image, and video processing, with a particular interest in the application of brain signal processing in robotics within the field of Brain-Computer-Interface."
Grace E. Callen
Gayatri Aroskar University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Master's in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell
Justin An University of the District of Columbia
Justin An is a senior undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently researching Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). His past research experience has been in ultrasound and seismic acoustics.
Kavitha Chandra University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Kavitha Chandra is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Francis College of Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She directs the Research, Academics and Mentoring Pathwa
Charles Thompson, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Charles Thompson is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Computation and Telecommunications and formerly Associate to the Dean for Research and Graduate Study at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New York University, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of NewYork, and a Ph.D. in Acoustics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Upon graduation he became an Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In 1987 he joined the Department Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMASS Lowell as its Analog Devices Career Development Professor. Dr. Thompson has served on the executive boards of the Cooperative Research Fellowship program of Bell Laboratories (1991-1999) and the AT&T Labs Fellowship Program (1996-2006).
At Bell Laboratories Dr. Thompson created with the Vice President of Research and Nobel laureate, Arno Penizas, the W. Lincoln Hawkins Mentoring Excellence Award (1994). This award is given to a member of the research staff for fostering the career growth of Bell Labs students and associates. This award is Research’s highest honor for mentoring contributions. In 1998, AT&T Labs instituted a similar award named for Dr. Thompson.
Charles Thompson is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of the Center for Advanced Computation and Telecommunications and formerly Associate to the Dean for Research and Graduate Study at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New York University, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of NewYork, and a Ph.D. in Acoustics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Upon graduation he became an Assistant Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In 1987 he joined the Department Electrical and Computer Engineering at UMASS Lowell as its Analog Devices Career Development Professor. Dr. Thompson has served on the executive boards of the Cooperative Research Fellowship program of Bell Laboratories (1991-1999) and the AT&T Labs Fellowship Program (1996-2006).
At Bell Laboratories Dr. Thompson created with the Vice President of Research and Nobel laureate, Arno Penizas, the W. Lincoln Hawkins Mentoring Excellence Award (1994). This award is given to a member of the research staff for fostering the career growth of Bell Labs students and associates. This award is Research’s highest honor for mentoring contributions. In 1998, AT&T Labs instituted a similar award named for Dr. Thompson.
His awards include the US Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring; Tau Beta Pi Eminent Engineer; James E. Blackwell Scholar; AT&T Bell Laboratories Cooperative Research Fellowship. He is cited in Who’s Who among African Americans, Education, and Technology Today; American Men and Women of Science, West Babylon Alumni Hall of Fame; He is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and cited for his fundamental contributions to theoretical and computational acoustics. He is senior member of IEEE, and a member of the American Physical Society and Sigma Xi. He has published reesearch in acoustics, control theory, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, linear and nonlinear systems, and telecommunications.
Kelilah Wolkowicz University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Kelilah Wolkowicz is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the UMass Lowell. Kelilah studies problems in healthcare that could be solved by applying design, control theory, and robotics. Her research focuses on developing methods and mechanisms to further enhance or promote user independence, while addressing users’ needs to remain, as much as possible, integrated socially and productively as members of their communities. Kelilah is an engineering faculty advocate for the River Hawks Scholar Academy, an engineering faculty fellow for DifferenceMaker, and a faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers UML chapter.
Max Denis University of the District of Columbia
Abstract
Deep within each ear is a balance system called the vestibular labyrinth, composed of three semicircular canals. The semicircular canals are fluid-filled, and fluid displacement occurs within the canal, triggering nerve signals to be translated by the nervous system, allowing for the interpretation of the head's orientation. When there is a disturbance to this system, vestibular dysfunction occurs potentially causing vertigo and a loss of balance. It is estimated that 35% of adults 40 years or older in the United States have experienced vestibular dysfunction. The vestibular balance system poses a robust, unique topic for developing interdisciplinary education curricula as its function encapsulates many fundamental mechanical, chemical, biological, and physical phenomena that can be studied with engineering concepts and principles. In this work, we present a survey of the state-of-the-art macro-models of the vestibular sensory system and current understanding of causes of vestibular dysfunction. Following which, selected models are presented in an experiential learning format for students to better understand the relationship and sensitivity of model parameters and external stimuli to physiological system behavior. By conducting simulations of these models, students are able to visualize outcomes, pose questions and potentially identify areas of research interest. This paper is the outcome of an Innovations in Graduate Education project supported by the National Science Foundation. The authors are graduate students from three different engineering majors and two universities co-creating an educational module with faculty and experts on the topic of human balance. The developed module related to analyzing the vestibular balance system mechanics will be integrated into undergraduate classes across engineering departments.
Farhadi Nia, M., & Callen, G. E., & Aroskar, G., & An, J., & Chandra, K., & Thompson,, C., & Wolkowicz, K., & Denis, M. (2023, June), Experiential Learning for Interdisciplinary Education on Vestibular System Models Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43558
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