Brain Computer Interface, the challenges and benefits for Rehabilitation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology can provide a communication pathway from the brain to the computer which does not rely on neuromuscular control. The depth and breadth of BCI research in progress today is indicative of its application potential – this is exemplified by the year-on-year exponential increase in peer review journal publications, regular news items in the media, formation of BCI related companies and substantial investment in BCI-specific projects. BCI technology is primarily aimed at people who require an alternative means of communication/control such as those with neuromuscular deficiencies due to disease, spinal cord injury or brain damage. Being able to offer these people an alternative means of communication through BCI will have an obvious impact on their quality of life. A range of studies have shown that head trauma victims diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) and locked-in patients due to motor neuron disease or brainstem stroke can specifically benefit from BCI systems although, as BCIs improve and surpass existing assistive technologies, they will be beneficial to those with less severe disabilities and in applications such as neurofeedback for stroke rehabilitation, epileptic seizure prediction, driver awareness/alertness detection, personalised computing environment adaptation and workload monitoring. BCI is also emerging as an augmentative technology in computer games, virtual reality ‎ and robotics. This presentation will describe the basis of a motor imagery (MI)-based BCI, highlight some of the developments which are underway at the University of Ulster and provide some examples of the current state-of-the-art BCIs and applications. The main focus will be on BCIs for alternative communication/control and preliminary results from a recent stroke rehabilitation study involving BCI based neurofeedback will be presented.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
PublisherBritish Society of Rehabilitation Medicine
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 2009
EventJoint British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine /Irish Association of Rehabilitation Medicine Spring Meeting - Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin
Duration: 1 Jan 2009 → …

Conference

ConferenceJoint British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine /Irish Association of Rehabilitation Medicine Spring Meeting
Period1/01/09 → …

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