Skip to main content

Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wolpaw, JR; Bedlack, RS; Reda, DJ; Ringer, RJ; Banks, PG; Vaughan, TM; Heckman, SM; McCane, LM; Carmack, CS; Winden, S; McFarland, DJ; Shi, H ...
Published in: Neurology
July 17, 2018

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and usefulness of an EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) for patients with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who used it independently at home for up to 18 months. METHODS: Of 42 patients consented, 39 (93%) met the study criteria, and 37 (88%) were assessed for use of the Wadsworth BCI. Nine (21%) could not use the BCI. Of the other 28, 27 (men, age 28-79 years) (64%) had the BCI placed in their homes, and they and their caregivers were trained to use it. Use data were collected by Internet. Periodic visits evaluated BCI benefit and burden and quality of life. RESULTS: Over subsequent months, 12 (29% of the original 42) left the study because of death or rapid disease progression and 6 (14%) left because of decreased interest. Fourteen (33%) completed training and used the BCI independently, mainly for communication. Technical problems were rare. Patient and caregiver ratings indicated that BCI benefit exceeded burden. Quality of life remained stable. Of those not lost to the disease, half completed the study; all but 1 patient kept the BCI for further use. CONCLUSION: The Wadsworth BCI home system can function reliably and usefully when operated by patients in their homes. BCIs that support communication are at present most suitable for people who are severely disabled but are otherwise in stable health. Improvements in BCI convenience and performance, including some now underway, should increase the number of people who find them useful and the extent to which they are used.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

July 17, 2018

Volume

91

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e258 / e267

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted
  • Self Care
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Home Care Services
  • Electroencephalography
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wolpaw, J. R., Bedlack, R. S., Reda, D. J., Ringer, R. J., Banks, P. G., Vaughan, T. M., … Ruff, R. L. (2018). Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology, 91(3), e258–e267. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000005812
Wolpaw, Jonathan R., Richard S. Bedlack, Domenic J. Reda, Robert J. Ringer, Patricia G. Banks, Theresa M. Vaughan, Susan M. Heckman, et al. “Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Neurology 91, no. 3 (July 17, 2018): e258–67. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000005812.
Wolpaw JR, Bedlack RS, Reda DJ, Ringer RJ, Banks PG, Vaughan TM, et al. Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology. 2018 Jul 17;91(3):e258–67.
Wolpaw, Jonathan R., et al. “Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Neurology, vol. 91, no. 3, July 2018, pp. e258–67. Pubmed, doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000005812.
Wolpaw JR, Bedlack RS, Reda DJ, Ringer RJ, Banks PG, Vaughan TM, Heckman SM, McCane LM, Carmack CS, Winden S, McFarland DJ, Sellers EW, Shi H, Paine T, Higgins DS, Lo AC, Patwa HS, Hill KJ, Huang GD, Ruff RL. Independent home use of a brain-computer interface by people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology. 2018 Jul 17;91(3):e258–e267.

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

July 17, 2018

Volume

91

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e258 / e267

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted
  • Self Care
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Home Care Services
  • Electroencephalography