BACKGROUND: Recent neuroimaging research has strikingly demonstrated the existence of covert awareness in some patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). These findings have highlighted the potential for the development of simple brain-computer interfaces (BCI) as a diagnosis in behaviourally unresponsive patients. OBJECTIVES: This study here reviews current EEG-based BCIs that hold potential for assessing and eventually assisting patients with DoC. It highlights key areas for further development that might eventually make their application feasible in this challenging patient group. METHODS: The major types of BCIs proposed in the literature are considered, namely those based on the P3 potential, sensorimotor rhythms, steady state oscillations and slow cortical potentials. In each case, a brief overview of the relevant literature is provided and then their relative merits for BCI applications in DoC are considered. RESULTS: A range of BCI designs have been proposed and tested for enabling communication in fully conscious, paralysed patients. Although many of these have potential applicability for patients with DoC, they share some key challenges that need to be overcome, including limitations of stimulation modality, feedback, user training and consistency. CONCLUSION: Future work will need to address the technical and practical challenges facing reliable implementation at the patient's bedside.
BACKGROUND: Recent neuroimaging research has strikingly demonstrated the existence of covert awareness in some patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). These findings have highlighted the potential for the development of simple brain-computer interfaces (BCI) as a diagnosis in behaviourally unresponsive patients. OBJECTIVES: This study here reviews current EEG-based BCIs that hold potential for assessing and eventually assisting patients with DoC. It highlights key areas for further development that might eventually make their application feasible in this challenging patient group. METHODS: The major types of BCIs proposed in the literature are considered, namely those based on the P3 potential, sensorimotor rhythms, steady state oscillations and slow cortical potentials. In each case, a brief overview of the relevant literature is provided and then their relative merits for BCI applications in DoC are considered. RESULTS: A range of BCI designs have been proposed and tested for enabling communication in fully conscious, paralysed patients. Although many of these have potential applicability for patients with DoC, they share some key challenges that need to be overcome, including limitations of stimulation modality, feedback, user training and consistency. CONCLUSION: Future work will need to address the technical and practical challenges facing reliable implementation at the patient's bedside.
Authors: Jean-Michel Pignat; Etienne Mauron; Jane Jöhr; Charlotte Gilart de Keranflec'h; Dimitri Van De Ville; Maria Giulia Preti; Djalel E Meskaldji; Volker Hömberg; Steven Laureys; Bogdan Draganski; Richard Frackowiak; Karin Diserens Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-06-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Adrien Combaz; Camille Chatelle; Arne Robben; Gertie Vanhoof; Ann Goeleven; Vincent Thijs; Marc M Van Hulle; Steven Laureys Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-09-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Melanie Boly; Anil K Seth; Melanie Wilke; Paul Ingmundson; Bernard Baars; Steven Laureys; David B Edelman; Naotsugu Tsuchiya Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2013-10-31