Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering has developed a communication platform for people in a completely vegetative state. A 36-year-old completely vegetative German patient was equipped with a new brain-computer interface (BCI) system based on auditory feedback. The patient learned to change his brain activity to respond to auditory feedback. According to a recent article published in the journal Nature Communications, she used this ability to ask for a drink, ask her caregivers to play her favorite rock band, and communicate with her young son.
BCIs interact with brain cells, recording the electrical activity of neurons and turning these signals into action. Such systems often include electrode sensors to record neural activity, a chipset to transmit the signals, and computer algorithms to translate the signals. BCIs can be external; They are similar to medical EEGs in that the electrodes can be placed on the scalp or forehead with an attachable cap, or implanted directly into the brain.
You can watch how the system works in the video below:
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