A brain-computer interface for long-term independent home use

Abstract

Our objective was to develop and validate a new brain-computer interface (BCI) system suitable for long-term independent home use by people with severe motor disabilities. The BCI was used by a 51-year-old male with ALS who could no longer use conventional assistive devices. Caregivers learned to place the electrode cap, add electrode gel, and turn on the BCI. After calibration, the system allowed the user to communicate via EEG. Re-calibration was performed remotely (via the internet), and BCI accuracy assessed in periodic tests. Reports of BCI usefulness by the user and the family were also recorded. Results showed that BCI accuracy remained at 83% (r = −.07, n.s.) for over 2.5 years (1.4% expected by chance). The BCI user and his family state that the BCI had restored his independence in social interactions and at work. He uses the BCI to run his NIH-funded research laboratory and to communicate via e-mail with family, friends, and colleagues. In addition to this first user, several other similarly disabled people are now using the BCI in their daily lives. In conclusion, long-term independent home use of this BCI system is practical for severely disabled people, and can contribute significantly to quality of life and productivity.

Key words::

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• electroencephalogram
• brain-computer interface
• P300 event-related potential
• assistive communication

Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by: NCMRR/NICHD, NIH (HD30146); NIBIB and NINDS, NIH (EB00856); The James S. McDonnell Foundation; The ALS Hope Foundation; The Altran Foundation; The Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation; The NEC Foundation; and The Brain Communication Foundation.

We thank Dennis J. McFarland, Gerwin Schalk, Dean J. Krusienski, George Townsend, and Peter Brunner for programming support, data analysis tools, and manuscript editing, Robert A. Cardillo for software that supports specific applications of the BCI output, Gerald E. Frye for assistance with formatting and figures, and Dana Williams for her tireless data collection.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. None of the material presented in this manuscript has been published or is under consideration elsewhere, including the Internet.