Spelling interface using intracortical signals in a completely locked-in patient enabled via auditory neurofeedback training

Ujwal Chaudhary (), Ioannis Vlachos, Jonas B. Zimmermann (), Arnau Espinosa, Alessandro Tonin, Andres Jaramillo-Gonzalez, Majid Khalili-Ardali, Helge Topka, Jens Lehmberg, Gerhard M. Friehs, Alain Woodtli, John P. Donoghue and Niels Birbaumer ()
Additional contact information
Ujwal Chaudhary: ALS Voice gGmbH
Ioannis Vlachos: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
Jonas B. Zimmermann: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
Arnau Espinosa: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
Alessandro Tonin: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
Andres Jaramillo-Gonzalez: University of Tübingen
Majid Khalili-Ardali: University of Tübingen
Helge Topka: Department of Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Cognitive Neurology and Stroke Unit, München Klinik Bogenhausen
Jens Lehmberg: Department of Neurosurgery, München Klinik Bogenhausen
Gerhard M. Friehs: European University
Alain Woodtli: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering
John P. Donoghue: Brown University
Niels Birbaumer: University of Tübingen

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can lose all muscle-based routes of communication as motor neuron degeneration progresses, and ultimately, they may be left without any means of communication. While others have evaluated communication in people with remaining muscle control, to the best of our knowledge, it is not known whether neural-based communication remains possible in a completely locked-in state. Here, we implanted two 64 microelectrode arrays in the supplementary and primary motor cortex of a patient in a completely locked-in state with ALS. The patient modulated neural firing rates based on auditory feedback and he used this strategy to select letters one at a time to form words and phrases to communicate his needs and experiences. This case study provides evidence that brain-based volitional communication is possible even in a completely locked-in state.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28859-8

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