Recent advances in rehabilitation technology: a review of the brain-computer interface

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Abstract from Rev Neurol. 2004 Sep 1-15;39(5):447-6.

Recent advances in rehabilitation technology: a review of the

brain-computer interface

Santana D, M, Ostrosky-Solis F.

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Facultad de Psicologia, Lomas

de Reforma, Mexico.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS. In this work we review some of the options

available in rehabilitation technology that are used to aid people with

severe neuromuscular disorders, and which take electrophysiological

activity as a source of biological signals with which to design

interfaces.

DEVELOPMENT. A number of different researchers have generated a novel

communication and control system that utilises the electrical activity

of the brain as a signal that represents the messages or commands an

individual sends to the outside world, without using the normal output

pathways of the brain, such as peripheral nerves and muscles; instead,

this is achieved through an artificial system that extracts, encodes and

applies them, called a brain-computer interface (BCI). The

electrophysiological activity for a BCI can be obtained by means of

superficial or implanted electrodes, and may therefore be classified as

invasive or non-invasive. Five types of brain signals have been explored

for use with a BCI: visual evoked potentials, slow cortical potentials,

cortical neuronal activity, beta and mu rhythms, and event-related

potentials.

CONCLUSIONS. Thanks to recent improvements and developments in

prototypes, this technology is sure to open up new possibilities of

communication and control for the affected population; it also

represents a valuable field of multidisciplinary research with numerous

interesting applications in areas beyond the sphere of health care.