In a major breakthrough,Watch Four Riders (Hellfighters of the East) Online a team of European researchers has developed a high-tech solution to give a voice to the voiceless.
By using a brain-computer interface, the team from the Wyss Center in Geneva successfully communicated with patients suffering from complete locked-in syndrome (CLIS), a devastating neurological condition. The researchers published their findings in a new paper published in PLOS Biology.
SEE ALSO: Severe burns can heal faster with this 3-D skin printerThose affected by CLIS, which comes as a result of diseases like ALS or neurological damage from a stroke or damage to the spinal cord, suffer from total paralysis. Mentally, however, they remain active and aware of their surroundings. In other words, their consciousness is locked inside their body with no way to break free.
A less advanced form of the condition, simply known as locked-in syndrome, refers to patients who retain some small control over their eye movements. This was famously depicted in the book The Diving Bell and the Butterflyand its film adaptation, whose subject, Jean-Dominique Bauby, dictated his autobiography to an aide by blinking his left eye.
The Wyss Center researchers tested a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) on four patients suffering from CLIS as a result of ALS. Two of the subjects were already in a permanent CLIS state, while the other two were entering the full CLIS state.
The BCI system was able to detect responses to spoken personal questions with known yes or no answers by measuring changes in blood oxygen levels in the brain. The patients answered the queries correctly at a 70 percent clip, but not all of the things they were asked were simple, concrete facts. In one of the tests, the subject responded "no" nine out of ten times when asked if he would be okay with his daughter marrying her boyfriend.
The success of the project was surprising even for the researchers, who held out little hope to be able to communicate with CLIS patients.
“The striking results overturn my own theory that people with complete locked-in syndrome are not capable of communication," Professor Niels Birbaumer, the senior author of the paper, said in a press release. "If we can replicate this study in more patients I believe we could restore useful communication in completely locked-in states for people with motor neuron diseases.”
The researchers were even more surprised with the consistent response to the one question they didn't already know the answer to: Are you happy? Over weeks of questioning, the subjects repeatedly responded to this with a "yes."
“We were initially surprised at the positive responses when we questioned the four completely locked-in participants about their quality of life," said Birbaumer. "What we observed was as long as they received satisfactory care at home, they found their quality of life acceptable. It is for this reason, if we could make this technique widely clinically available, it would have a huge impact on the day-to-day life of people with complete locked-in syndrome.”
Previous:Billy Graham’s Crusades
New zones and Old Gods mark the future of 'World of Warcraft'China's statePSA: 'The Handmaid's Tale' creator wants you to vote in the midtermsHere is the Donald Trump campaign's first TV adWaymo blames collision with motorcycle on human error, not AISteve Carell to host 'Saturday Night Live'Idris Elba finally wins 'Sexiest Man Alive' but just wants you to voteHublot's new watch is a perfect fit for Bitcoin millionaires'Podcast bingo' is a perfect summation of the clichés you always hearNew zones and Old Gods mark the future of 'World of Warcraft'Nothing to see here, just some dogs enjoying an art exhibitionThe first foldable smartphone is here, but don't get too excited yetFans are worried about that 'American Horror Story: Apocalypse' finaleThe first foldable smartphone is here, but don't get too excited yetTesla announces Elon Musk's replacement as board chair: Robyn DenholmJ. K. Rowling sues former assistant for stealing Harry Potter' swagBill Gates just brought a jar of poop on stage — for a very good reasonMoviePass, what are you doing?Thieves are using 'informed delivery' to spy on mail and commit fraudBest fan theories on the finale of 'American Horror Story: Apocalypse' Uber is selling its auto Apple faces new Texas lawsuit over "purposeful" iPhone slowdown Some Samsung Galaxy Note 8's stop working after batteries are drained Lin Manuel Miranda's corny New Year's blessing is what we need Facebook shuts down Ramzan Kadyrov's accounts after U.S. sanctions How the women of Hollywood are fighting back against sexual harassment Guy arrested for 'Nigerian prince' email scams is definitely not Nigerian royalty Apple Store in Chicago has a big winter design flaw Telegram and Instagram blocked in Iran in the midst of protests Japan reportedly using facial recognition at 2020 Summer Olympics Coldest New Year's Eve in 70 years awaits revelers in Eastern U.S. Stan Lee turns 95, 'Avengers' send birthday messages Amazon's Echo Dot and Alexa voice assistant ruled this holiday season Everything you need to know about the internet's new obsession with eating Tide pods The editor's notes to Milo Yiannopoulos's book are the harshest roast of Milo yet The 'Fantastic Beasts' sequel conjures up a bunch of new images Apple fought a company called "Steve Jobs Inc." Taiwan accidentally put Dulles Airport on its e Bono thinks music got 'very girly' and it's been great knowing you dude Crowd has the best comeback after fan told to put shoes back on
2.2232s , 10130.8046875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch Four Riders (Hellfighters of the East) Online】,Evergreen Information Network