The 266th ITS Professor, Prof. Dr. Ir. Adhi Dharma Wibawa, ST, MT, explaining his scientific speech in the field of Brain Signal Processing

ITS Campus, ITS News —Brain signals store various information that can be used to understand how the human brain works. It was his focus on research in the field of brain signal processing that led Prof. Dr. Ir. Adhi Dharma Wibawa, ST, MT, the 266th professor at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), to become the first professor from the ITS Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKK).

In his scientific speech entitled Utilizing Brain Signals to Support Neurotechnology Innovation for National Progress, Adhi explained that every human being has around 170 billion cells in their brain that regulate all of their activities. These activities produce waves or electrical signals that can be captured through the surface of the head using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology. “The captured signals can be processed to understand the human brain’s responses in depth,” he explained.

The professor from the Department of Medical Technology at ITS explained that his brain signal research uses an integrated computational approach. This approach includes three main stages. Namely, pre-processing to reduce interference or distortion in the signal, multilevel feature extraction to capture signal characteristics from various domains, and visual representation that is used as the basis for interpretation and classification of brain conditions.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Adhi Dharma Wibawa, ST, MT (wearing batik) while practicing the use of an electroencephalogram (EEG) device

Unlike conventional methods, the research conducted by this ITS Electrical Engineering alumnus integrates various features at the extraction stage. These features include the time domain (mean), frequency (power spectral density), and signal complexity (entropy). “This feature extraction allows for a more accurate representation of mental conditions such as stress or brain fatigue,” explained the father of two.

Furthermore, Adhi said that the use of brain signals has great prospects in the field of health. Brain signal processing can be used to detect epilepsy earlier, monitor sleep quality, and assist in the rehabilitation process for stroke patients. This technology is also useful in other medical therapies, helping medical personnel make more accurate and faster decisions.

Prof. Dr. Adhi Dharma Wibawa, ST, MT, explaining the application of brain signal processing in various fieldsThe Deputy Dean of FKK ITS also explained other applications of brain signal processing. In addition to the health sector, he added, brain signals can also be used to study emotional responses in the field of neuromarketing. The waves emitted by consumers’ brains will reflect their responses to the products displayed, thereby helping businesses to evaluate their products.

The Head of the ITS Medical Technology Study Program Establishment Team explained that the field of Brain Signal Processing has great potential to produce various innovative applications. This innovation is not limited to the health sector but can also be applied in fields such as psychology and education. “The hope is that these findings do not remain confined to the laboratory but can be realized as practical solutions that directly benefit society,” he stated.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Adhi Dharma Wibawa ST MT (second from left) with his family after the ITS Professor Inauguration ceremony

The man, born in Surabaya on May 5, 1976, emphasized that brain signal processing research is not only beneficial for supporting the physical and mental health of the community, but also drives innovation in the field of neurotechnology. This contribution aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on healthy and prosperous lives and SDG 9 on industry, innovation, and infrastructure, which focuses on strengthening national competitiveness through technological development. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: A Rifda Yuni Artika