Groundbreaking system allows locked-in syndrome patients to communicate
by Ian Sample Science editor from on (#2AZHQ)
Using a device which detects patterns in brain activity, patients paralysed by ALS can answer 'yes' or 'no' - and tell doctors they are 'happy' with life
Doctors have used a brain-reading device to hold simple conversations with "locked-in" patients in work that promises to transform the lives of people who are too disabled to communicate.
The groundbreaking technology allows the paralysed patients - who have not been able to speak for years - to answer "yes" or "no" to questions by detecting telltale patterns in their brain activity.