Article

OBJECTIVES: To assess awareness in subjects who are in a minimally conscious
state by using an electroencephalogram-based brain-computer interface (BCI), and
to determine whether these patients may learn to modulate sensorimotor rhythms
with visual feedback, stereo auditory feedback, or both. DESIGN: Initial
assessment included imagined hand movement or toe wiggling to activate
sensorimotor areas and modulate brain rhythms in 90 trials (4 subjects).
Within-subject and within-group analyses were performed to evaluate significant
activations. A within-subject analysis was performed involving multiple BCI
technology training sessions to improve the capacity of the user to modulate
sensorimotor rhythms through visual and auditory feedback. SETTING: Hospital,
homes of subjects, and a primary care facility. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=4; 3
men, 1 woman) who were in a minimally conscious state (age range, 27-53 y; 1-12 y
after brain injury). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Awareness detection was determined from sensorimotor patterns that differed for
each motor imagery task. BCI performance was determined from the mean
classification accuracy of brain patterns by using a BCI signal processing
framework and assessment of performance in multiple sessions. RESULTS: All
subjects demonstrated significant and appropriate brain activation during the
initial assessment, and real-time feedback was provided to improve arousal.
Consistent activation was observed in multiple sessions.
CONCLUSIONS: The
electroencephalogram-based assessment showed that patients in a minimally
conscious state may have the capacity to operate a simple BCI-based communication
system, even without any detectable volitional control of movement.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS