Headband allows severely paralysed patients to communicate by controlling blood flow through the brain

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Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 02 Oct 2005 - 16:00 PDT

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Scientists in Japan have developed a headband (Kokoro-Gatari, meaning 'mind talk') which severely paralysed people can use to communicate. Severely paralysed people are not capable of the most basic of body movements, they can't even make themselves blink.

The device has been developed by Hitachi.

However, there is one human function even the most paralysed patient can control (if he/she is conscious) - that is the flow of blood through his/her brain.

The scientists say that with the headband, the patient is able to respond with a 'yes' or a 'no' - the headband is 80% accurate.

Hitachi developed the headband for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). People with ALS eventually become totally paralysed. However, their cognitive abilities remain intact (they do not lose their intelligence).

The way the headband works is that it can pick up changes in blood flow to the frontal lobe (in the brain). Patients are able to change the blood flow. By increase blood flow to the frontal lobe the patient will communicate 'yes'. If they want to communicate 'no', they make a conscious effort not to alter the blood flow to the frontal lobe.

How can a patient affect the blood flow to the frontal lobe?

The patient needs to think about something which gets the brain to work a bit more, such as working out some mental maths or reciting poetry, or even trying to remember the words of a song. This is enough to increase blood flow to the frontal lobe.

If the patient wants to express 'no', he/she keeps the mind blank and relaxed, thus not affecting the blood flow to that part of the brain.

Hitachi believes the headband will be on the market in Japan at the beginning of 2006. It will cost about US$3,500.

Not only will this device be fantastic for patients, but for carers as well. Carers are never sure whether what they have just done, or are doing regularly, is acceptable or pleasant for the patient. Now they will have some feedback.

When the researchers only managed an 80% accuracy rate they considered abandoning the whole project. However, patient groups urged them to see the whole thing through to the end. As one of them said, "80% is a great deal better than zero."

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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