Once the technique is perfected, its use will require patients to have a craniotomy, a surgical incision into the skull. From there, software would be calibrated from each person's brain waves to the action that is desired, such as movement of a prosthetic arm.

With new research, implantation of electrodes such as those used in test subjects, may be an option.


"Access to patients with implanted electrodes is limited and there are only a handful of labs worldwide pursuing this research. A lot of research still needs to be done to demonstrate that our system is practical and beneficial enough for the severely disabled to warrant a craniotomy. However, people are also working on new electrodes and surgical techniques that would allow implantation of similar electrodes through a much smaller opening in the skull than is currently required," Krusienski says, adding that primary efforts focus on improving speed and accuracy of the system.

Preliminary research has been promising. "I think in the future, with this technology proven effective and safe, one can envision a day when patients with disabilities can use these types of devices implanted in their brain to communicate," Shih says.

The study is funded by the National Science Foundation.

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