{UAH} Man in a 'vegetative state' can speak - mind-reading computer

Locked in his body for 12 years but finally given a voice: Man in a 'vegetative state' can speak thanks to mind-reading computer

• A patient believed to be in an unresponsive vegetative state was asked to focus on a 'yes' or 'no' response to a set of questions
• His brain activity was then captured using functional magnetic imaging
  
• The patient was responsive and also found to be aware of his environment, meaning he could maintain coherent thoughts and lead a rich mental life

By Ellie Zolfagharifard

PUBLISHED: 11:16 GMT, 13 August 2013 | UPDATED: 14:17 GMT, 13 August 2013

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Scientists have been able to communicate with a patient who was thought to be in a vegetative state for the past 12 years.

Researchers in Canada used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to look at the brain activity of a previously non-responsive patient while asking a series of set questions.

While inside the scanner, the patient answered several questions, such as 'are you in a hospital? by concentrating on the specific words, 'yes' or 'no'.

While inside the scanner, a patient answered several questions, such as 'are you in a hospital?' by concentrating on the specific words, yes or no. In this way, the patient reported that he knew what his name was and that he was in the hospital at the time of communication (file picture)

In this way, the patient reported that he knew what his name was and that he was in the hospital at the time of communication. 

'This new technique takes communication with some patients who are assumed to be in a vegetative state to the next level,' said researcher Adrian Owen.

 

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'It will make detecting who is conscious and who is not much faster and more reliable and for those who are conscious, communicating their wishes will be that much easier.'

In two different hospital visits, five months apart, the researchers were able to communicate with the patient but found that he was also aware of his environment, meaning he could maintain coherent thoughts and lead a rich mental life.

The brain scans that reveal what we are thinking: The team found brain activity could reveal the answer to simple questions - and could be used to communicate with patients in a coma

HOW THEY DID IT

The patient was asked to concentrate on a 'yes' or 'no' response to questions like 'Are you in a hospital?'

By analysing his brain activity, the team were able to accurately read his answers.

In two different hospital visits, five months apart, the researchers were able to communicate with the patient.

They also found that he was also aware of his environment, meaning he could maintain coherent thoughts and lead a rich mental life.

'For the first time, we showed that a patient clinically diagnosed as "vegetative" can use his attention to show that he is conscious, and to communicate with the outside world,' said Lorina Naci, lead researcher on the new study at Western University in London, Ontario. 

'Frequently, after a severe injury to the brain, patients lose their ability to make any physical responses,' added Ms Naci.

'When we look at or talk to any such patient, we don't know whether they are conscious, can understand what is happening around them, or have any thoughts about their condition.'

Ms Naci and Mr Owen plan to continue using this method of communicating with behaviourally nonresponsive patients, who, similarly, may have been misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state.

In two different hospital visits, five months apart, the researchers were able to communicate with the patient but found that he was also aware of his environment, meaning he could maintain coherent thoughts and lead a rich mental life

The research was reported in The Journal of American Medical Association for Neurology in a study named 'Making every word count for non-responsive patients'.

The work follows development of the technology to help communicate with people in a coma, unveiled by the same group earlier this year.

According to Ms Naci, the interpretation of human thought from brain activity – without depending on speech or action – is one of the most provoking and challenging frontiers of modern neuroscience.

Specifically, patients who are fully conscious and awake, yet, due to brain damage, are unable to show any behavioural responsivity, expose the limits of the neuromuscular system and the necessity for alternate forms of communication

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2391214/Locked-body-12-years-finally-given-voice-Man-vegetative-state-speak-thanks-mind-reading-computer.html#ixzz2brUoU4R0
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