image: The picture at the top of this figure shows the BCI 'keyboard' used by the patient. The screen shots below the picture show both of the menus used in this study and details how the word 'HAPPY' would be spelled. First, while the display was flashing, the patient would pay attention only to the 'H.' After about 38 seconds, the computer would print the selected letter in the grey text bar. About 8 seconds later, the screen resumed flashing while the patient paid attention to the 'A.' Third, after the 'A' was selected, it was necessary to select "Next" and switch screens because the 'P' was not contained in the first screen. Fourth, 'P' was selected twice and the 'Y' was selected to complete the word. At that point, the first letter of the next word could be selected, which might require selecting 'Back' to return to the previous screen. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the Oct. 8, 2014, issue of Science Translational Medicine, published by AAAS. The paper, by Dr. E.W. Sellers at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., and colleagues was titled, 'Noninvasive brain-computer interface enables communication after brainstem stroke.' view more
Credit: Eric W. Sellers