Evaluating person-centered factors associated with brain–computer interface access to a commercial augmentative and alternative communication paradigm

ABSTRACT

Current BCI-AAC systems largely utilize custom-made software and displays that may be unfamiliar to AAC stakeholders. Further, there is limited information available exploring the heterogenous profiles of individuals who may use BCI-AAC. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate how individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) learned to control a motor-based BCI switch in a row-column AAC scanning pattern, and person-centered factors associated with BCI-AAC performance. Four individuals with ALS completed 12 BCI-AAC training sessions, and three individuals without neurological impairment completed 3 BCI-AAC training sessions. To assess person-centered factors associated with BCI-AAC performance, participants completed both initial and recurring assessment measures including levels of cognition, motor ability, fatigue, and motivation. Three of four participants demonstrated either BCI-AAC performance in the range of neurotypical peers, or an improving BCI-AAC learning trajectory. However, BCI-AAC learning trajectories were variable. Assessment measures revealed that two participants presented with a suspicion for cognitive impairment yet achieved the highest levels of BCI-AAC accuracy with their increased levels of performance being possibly supported by largely unimpaired motor skills. Motor-based BCI switch access to a commercial AAC row-column scanning may be feasible for individuals with ALS and possibly supported by timely intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• augmentative and alternative communication
• brain–computer interface
• scanning
• switch
• translation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Chavis Lickvar-Armstrong and Dr. Jeremy Burnison for their assistance with this project.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the Texas Woman’s University Woodcock Institute Research Grant, the ASHA Foundation New Century Scholars Grant, the University of Kansas Summer Research Scholarship, and the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD R01-DC016343).