[ExI] Brain-computer interface helps patient with locked-in syndrome communicate

[BillK]

The patient, a 37-year old man with ALS, was able to communicate
despite not having any voluntary muscle control.
By Siddhi Camila Lama    22 March 2022

<https://www.livescience.com/brain-computer-interface-als-communicate>

Quotes:
For the first time, a patient in a completely locked-in state due to
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was able to communicate verbally
using a brain-computer interface, according to a new study.

This technology allowed the patient, a 37-year old man with ALS, to
communicate by forming words and phrases, despite not having any
voluntary muscle control. The system involved implanting a device with
microelectrodes into the patient's brain, and using a custom computer
software to help translate his brain signals.

As communication with patients in a completely locked-in state has
historically not been possible, the team didn't  know whether or not
the system would work for patient K1. In fact, "nobody believed that
communication is possible in a completely locked-in state," Birbaumer
told Live Science.

Yet, about 3 months after the surgery, patient K1 was able to
successfully use neurofeedback to control the brain-computer
interface. About half a month later, he started selecting letters and
spelling out words and phrases, eventually even thanking the authors
and spelling out, "boys, it works so effortlessly."
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A remarkable breakthrough in treatment!

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