Mind Reading Device May Enable People Unable to Speak or Move to Converse

Author: Cell Press
Published: 2012/06/28 - Updated: 2024/11/10
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Assistive Technology - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: Mind reader device may enable people unable to speak or move at all to manage unscripted back and forth conversation.

Why it matters: This article offers a detailed look at innovative brain-scanning technology that may enable communication for individuals who cannot speak or move. Using real-time fMRI, this method interprets brain activity to spell out letters, potentially allowing fully paralyzed individuals to engage in conversation. This breakthrough builds on previous neuroimaging techniques, pushing forward the possibilities for motor-free communication and pointing toward future adaptations for more accessible use - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Researchers have come up with a device that may enable people who are completely unable to speak or move at all to nevertheless manage unscripted back-and-forth conversation. The key to such silent and still communication is the first real-time, brain-scanning speller, according to the report published online in Current Biology.

Main Item

The new technology builds on groundbreaking earlier uses of fMRI brain scans to assess consciousness in people described as being in an unconscious, vegetative state and to enable them to answer yes and no questions.

fMRI (or functional magnetic resonance imaging) is typically used for clinical and research purposes to track brain activity by measuring blood flow. fMRI is based on the same technology as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a noninvasive test that uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body. But instead of creating images of organs and tissues like MRI, fMRI looks at blood flow in the brain to detect areas of activity. These changes in blood flow, which are captured on a computer, help doctors understand more about how the brain works.

The attractions of FMRI have made it a popular tool for imaging normal brain function, especially for psychologists. Over the last decade it has provided new insight to the investigation of how memories are formed, language, pain, learning and emotion to name but a few areas of research. FMRI is also being applied in clinical and commercial settings.

"The work of Adrian Owen and colleagues led me to wonder whether it might even become possible to use fMRI, mental tasks, and appropriate experimental designs to freely encode thoughts, letter-by-letter, and therewith enable back-and-forth communication in the absence of motor behavior," said Bettina Sorger of Maastricht University in The Netherlands.

The new evidence shows that the answer to that thought question is yes.

Sorger's team came up with a letter-encoding technique that requires almost no pre-training.

Participants in their study voluntarily selected letters on a screen, which guided the letter encoding; for each specific character, participants were asked to perform a particular mental task for a set period of time. That produced 27 distinct brain patterns corresponding to each letter of the alphabet and the equivalent of a space bar, which could be automatically decoded in real-time using newly developed data analysis methods.

In each communication experiment, participants held a mini-conversation consisting of two open questions and answers.

Everyone the researchers tested was able to successfully produce answers within a single one-hour session.

The results substantially extend earlier uses of fMRI, which allowed individuals to answer the equivalent of multiple-choice questions having four or fewer possible answers, by enabling free-letter spelling. That could make all the difference for people who are completely paralyzed and unable to benefit from other means of alternative communication.

Ultimately, she says their goal is to transfer the fMRI technology they've developed to a more portable and affordable method for measuring blood flow, such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Sorger et al.:"A Real-time fMRI-based Spelling Device Immediately Enabling Robust Motor-independent Communication. "

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

As brain-reading technology advances, the implications for accessibility and inclusivity are profound. The potential to bridge communication gaps for individuals unable to speak or move suggests a future where neurological disabilities are met with empowering tech solutions. Ethical considerations will be crucial to ensure autonomy and privacy, while further development could make these devices affordable and universally accessible. The work covered here emphasizes not only scientific progress but also a deep commitment to enhancing quality of life for individuals with severe disabilities

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Cell Press and published on 2012/06/28, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Cell Press can be contacted at cell.com NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.