[microsound] 'Brainwave' cap controls computer

[Cordell Klier <doctsect@xxxxxxxxx>]

hi.. found this fun to hear about. nabbed this
from the big igloo list on also on & thought you
guys might enjoy this..?..??..

Cordell

From:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4074869.stm
via: http://www.gyre.org/news/Neurotechnology

'Brainwave' cap controls computer

The cursor movements were recorded: blue is 
slowest, and red fastest
A team of US researchers has shown that 
controlling devices with the brain 
is a step closer.

Four people, two of them partly paralysed 
wheelchair users, successfully 
moved a computer cursor while wearing a cap with 
64 electrodes.

Previous research has shown that monkeys can 
control a computer with 
electrodes implanted into their brain.

The New York team reported their findings in the 
Proceedings of the National 
Academy of Sciences.

"The results show that people can learn to use 
scalp-recorded 
electroencephalogram rhythms to control rapid and

accurate movement of a 
cursor in two directions," said Jonathan Wolpaw 
and Dennis McFarlane.

The research team, from New York State Department

of Health and State 
University of New York in Albany, said the 
research was another step towards 
people controlling wheelchairs or other 
electronic devices by thought.

Wadsworth Center
Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders
wolpaw@ wadsworth.org

Thinking cap

The four people faced a large video screen 
wearing a special cap which meant 
no surgery or implantation was needed.

 A non-invasive brain control interface could 
support clinically useful 
operation of a robotic arm, a motorised 
wheelchair or a neuroprosthesis

Jonathan Wolpaw and Dennis McFarlane, State 
University of New York
Brain activity produces electrical signals that 
can be read by electrodes. 
Complex algorithms then translate those signals 
into instructions to direct 
the computer.
Such brain activity does not require the use of 
any nerves or muscles, so 
people with stroke or spinal cord injuries could 
use the cap effectively.

"The impressive non-invasive multidimensional 
control achieved in the 
present study suggests that a non-invasive brain 
control interface could 
support clinically useful operation of a robotic 
arm, a motorised wheelchair 
or a neuroprosthesis," said the researchers.

The four volunteers also showed that they could 
get better at controlling 
the cursor the more times they tried.

Although the two partially-paralysed people 
performed better overall, the 
researchers said this could be because their 
brains were more used to 
adapting or that they were simply more motivated.

It is not the first time researchers have had 
this sort of success in 
brain-control experiments.

Some teams have used eye motion and other 
recording techniques.
Earlier this year, a team at the MIT Media Labs 
Europe demonstrated a 
wireless cap which read brain waves to control a 
computer game character.

+++

Official Press Release:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/2004/wolpaw_release_12-06-2004.htm

Communication Option for the Severely Disabled 
Improves
Health Department Researchers Show Their 
Non-Invasive Brain-Computer 
Interface Offers More Control than Once Thought

ALBANY, NY, December 6, 2004 - A brain-computer 
interface (BCI) that 
translates electrical signals detected from the 
scalp into a user's commands 
offers comparable precision, speed and accuracy 
to systems that rely on 
electrodes surgically implanted in the brain, 
researchers at the Department 
of Health's Wadsworth Center laboratories have 
shown. It has been widely 
assumed that only invasive devices could control 
complex movements, such as 
operating a word processing program or a 
motorized wheelchair by thought 
alone.

Jonathan Wolpaw, M.D., and Dennis McFarland, 
Ph.D., published their findings 
online in the Proceedings of the National Academy

of Sciences the week of 
December 6, 2004. The paper will appear in the 
journal's December 21, 2004, 
print edition. Dr. Wolpaw's laboratory pioneered 
BCI technology.

BCIs provide an alternative communication and 
control option for the 
severely disabled, such as individuals with Lou 
Gehrig's disease, brain and 
spinal injuries, cerebral palsy and other 
neurodegenerative diseases. The 
brain's electrical output is translated by a 
computer into physical outputs, 
such as moving a cursor on a computer screen.

In the Wadsworth system, users wear an electrode 
cap that detects 
electroencephalographic (EEG) activity from the 
scalp and records specific 
brain waves. An adaptive algorithm analyzes the 
output and focuses on the 
signals that provide people greatest control as 
they learn to use their 
thoughts to direct a cursor to a target on a 
computer screen. As the trainee 
improves, the algorithm adapts anew.

"Thanks to medical technology, people paralyzed 
by brain injuries or 
disorders are living longer. Brain-computer 
interface technology promises to 
improve their quality of life by offering a new 
chance to communicate and 
control their lives," said Commissioner of Health

Antonia C. Novello, M.D., 
M.P.H., Dr.P.H.

In the newly published study, able-bodied and 
spinal cord-injured 
individuals who were trained in Dr. Wolpaw's lab 
achieved real-time, 
two-dimensional cursor control comparable to that

reported in studies of 
non-human primates with implanted electrodes. 
Their marked improvement in 
the performance of a non-invasive BCI can be 
attributed to changes in the 
signal processing and to advances in the adaptive

algorithm. The findings 
suggest that an EEG-based system, which does not 
require surgical 
implantation of electrodes in the brain, may be 
further improved and may 
eventually support such sophisticated tasks as 
operating a neuroprosthetic 
arm or having mouse-like control over a cursor.

Dr. Wolpaw's research is supported by the 
National Institutes of Health and 
the James S. McDonnell Foundation. He is chief of

Wadsworth Center's 
Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and a 
professor in the University at 
Albany's School of Public Health. He also is a 
member of the New York State 
Spinal Cord Research Board. This board dispenses 
$8.5 million annually to 
scientists in New York and elsewhere for research

aimed at curing and 
restoring function after spinal cord injuries.

Biggs Laboratory -- (518) 474-2160
Post Office Address:
Biggs Laboratory
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
P.O. Box 509
Albany, New York 12201-0509
Ship To Address:
Biggs Laboratory
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
P1 South Dock J3
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12237

David Axelrod Institute -- (518) 473-3837
Post Office Address:
David Axelrod Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
P.O. Box 22002
Albany, New York 12201-2002
Ship To Address:
David Axelrod Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
120 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York 12208

Genomics Institute -- (518) 880-1300
Post Office Address:
The Genomics Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
465 Jordan Road
Troy, New York 12180
Ship To Address:
The Genomics Institute
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
465 Jordan Road
Troy, New York 12180

Griffin Laboratory -- (518) 869-4500
Post Office Address:
Griffin Laboratory
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
P.O. Box 509
Albany, New York 12201-0509
Ship To Address:
Griffin Laboratory
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
5668 State Farm Road
Slingerlands, New York 12159

Center for Medical Science
Post Office Address:
Center for Medical Science
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
P.O. Box 509
Albany, New York 12201-0509
Ship To Address:
Center for Medical Science
Wadsworth Center
NYS Department of Health
P1 South Dock J3
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12237 


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