Atlanta, August, 2000 - Six individuals who suffer from complete paralysis will soon be able to communicate with a computer, thanks to approval for an additional $1.77 million in research grants provided to Dr. Melody Moore, assistant professor of computer information systems in the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, and her team of researchers.
The patients have, in most instances, suffered from an accident or disease that has completely disabled spinal cord function, but leaves the brain perfectly intact. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 people worldwide suffer from this condition, formally know as locked-in syndrome. Dr. Moore works with Neurologist Dr. Philip Kennedy, who developed an electrode that is implanted in the human brain, allowing the patient to control a computer with their brain signals. Current funding provides for six more implants over the next two years, as well as improvement of the existing technology patients already use.
Moore and Kennedy's research project has already benefited two patients, who are bedridden, unable to make the slightest body movement or make a simple verbal request of their caretakers but have normal brain function. Moore and her colleagues have designed a computer program that enables these once-silent patients to speak.
"The initial successful results and discoveries from our research have encouraged us to vigorously pursue refinements and improvements in this technology," said Moore. "Imagine yourself bedridden, unable to move or speak, with perfectly normal brain function. If a nurse covers you with a blanket, and you get too hot, how can you communicate with anyone to remove the blanket? Or, if your family visits, how can you tell them you are glad to see them? This technology makes this and other kinds of communication possible." With continued success, Moore and Dr. Kennedy eventually hope to train other research teams to perform the procedures and train more patients.
History of the Computer/Brain Interface Project
The project has its beginnings in 1986, when Moore's colleague, Dr. Phillip Kennedy, developed an electrode that can pick up nerve impulses generated by brain activity. The electrode is about the size of the tip of a ball-point pen and is connected to a transmitter that sends signals generated by the brain to a computer system. The signal-processing computer program designed by Moore interprets and translates raw data it receives from the transmitter. Since patients have almost no ability to produce any type of muscle movement, the electrical impulses generated by the brain to move an arm or a leg can be used as a substitute signal to generate a letter, word or phrase in the computer that the patient wishes to "say."
TalkAssist, developed by Moore and her students is one of the current systems used to train patients to produce controlled and focused neural signals. The system allows a patient to generate a brain signal to move a cursor or a mouse arrow to select letters, words or icons from a computer menu. In March 1998, the first patient used TalkAssist to indicate phrases such as "I am thirsty" and "It was nice talking to you" to his doctors and nurses. Another program called RITS (Research Instrumentation & Training Software) is still under development to provide more specific training functions. Moore's graduate students at Georgia State are currently assisting her in her efforts.
Future of the Computer/Brain Interface Project
The technology is still evolving. The current average for typing is three characters per minute and is tedious and error-prone. Moore's grant will enable her to further improve the system for her patients, allowing faster, more accurate control. Moore also plans to add a few extra amenities to benefit her patients. Current plans include offering environmental control—like the ability to operate household appliances such as VCRs, TVs, radios or control a light switch. Moore also hopes that she will be able to provide her patients with access to the Internet, which will facilitate communication with the rest of the world as well as give patients the ability to perform functions such as shopping for Christmas gifts online. Moore's initial research paves the way for the possibility of a system that will allow patients to operate computerized prosthetic limbs, a first step towards restoring movement in paralyzed limbs. But for now, Moore is focused on researching patterns of brain activity that may lead her to better improve her computer system.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Melody Moore,
melody@gsu.edu
