Towards Implantable Brain-Computer Interface for Communication in Locked-In Syndrome patients

Locked-in Syndrome (LIS) severely restricts the communication abilities of individuals due to extensive paralysis. The Intracranial Neuro Telemetry to Restore communication (INTRECOM) project aims to aid patients in overcoming these limitations by developing a fully implantable brain computer interface (BCI) system based on state-of-the-art technology holding great promise in revolutionizing the lives of LIS patients. In this project, the Graz BCI group, with its expertise in understanding brain dynamics associated with movement, focuses on the algorithmic development of advanced decoders that enable the user to execute specific commands by simply attempting corresponding movements. Our preliminary findings using electrocorticography (ECoG) data obtained from one individual with LIS that underwent implantation of a BCI communication system demonstrate the applicability of a ‘brain switch’ function that detects brain signals associated with attempted movements. This switch can then be used to translate the intention of the user into a click/select function on a screen.