Enhancing Communication for People in Late-Stage ALS Using an fNIRS-Based BCI System.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Brain-computer interface (BCI) based communication remains a challenge for people with later-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who lose all voluntary muscle control. Although recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to successfully control BCIs primarily for healthy cohorts, these systems are yet inefficient for people with severe motor disabilities like ALS. In this study, we developed a new fNIRS-based BCI system in concert with a single-trial Visuo-Mental (VM) paradigm to investigate the feasibility of enhanced communication for ALS patients, particularly those in the later stages of the disease.

Methods

In the first part of the study, we recorded data from six ALS patients using our proposed proto

SUBMITTER: Borgheai SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7288752 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature