Breakthrough system allows communication with people with locked-in syndrome

An international team of scientists has developed a computer interface that has made it possible to communicate with people suffering from the so-called “dementia”. closure assembly. New invention could completely change their lives.

Syndromeół confinement is a state of total physical disability, while maintaining mental capacity. A patient suffering from compositeół closure is fully conscious, but is unable to move almost any part of the body. In someóhe patients retain the ability to move their eyeballs and eyelids, but in extreme cases they are not even able to do so.

Such a condition is sometimes called lucid coma or pseudo coma. It is caused by damage within the m trunkózgu. Patients suffering from the mild variety can communicate by blinking their eyelids and moving their eyeballs. In the case of complete shutdown syndrome, communication has so far been impossible.

Scientists from the Wyss Center in Geneva are behind the development of a method of communication with people with locked-in syndrome. Specialists have developed a computer interface, który can „read the patient’s thoughtsów”. This is no magic trick. Specially created „cap” with sensors to measure blood oxygen levels in the frontal-central region mózgu and its electrical activity. Specialists combined near-infrared spectroscopy with an electroencephalograph and thusób they created an interface through whichóru patients suffering from compositeół closure were able to answer questions by thinking „yes” or „not”.

Four patients took part in the interface testsów. The subjects were initially asked simple questions, to which theyóre the answer was known. For example, the name of the husband or wife was asked. Experts noted that 70 percent of the. the right answer was given. Over time, the questions have been increasingly difficult. Scientistsów were surprised to find that all patients answered affirmatively when asked if they were happy. The question was asked for four weeks. One of the patientów were even asked if they agreed to marry córki. The answer was negative, but the wedding happened anyway.