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Review
. 2014 Sep 24:7:38.
doi: 10.3389/fneng.2014.00038. eCollection 2014.

Challenges in clinical applications of brain computer interfaces in individuals with spinal cord injury

Rüdiger Rupp  1
Affiliations
Review

Challenges in clinical applications of brain computer interfaces in individuals with spinal cord injury

Rüdiger Rupp. Front Neuroeng. .

Abstract

Brain computer interfaces (BCIs) are devices that measure brain activities and translate them into control signals used for a variety of applications. Among them are systems for communication, environmental control, neuroprostheses, exoskeletons, or restorative therapies. Over the last years the technology of BCIs has reached a level of matureness allowing them to be used not only in research experiments supervised by scientists, but also in clinical routine with patients with neurological impairments supervised by clinical personnel or caregivers. However, clinicians and patients face many challenges in the application of BCIs. This particularly applies to high spinal cord injured patients, in whom artificial ventilation, autonomic dysfunctions, neuropathic pain, or the inability to achieve a sufficient level of control during a short-term training may limit the successful use of a BCI. Additionally, spasmolytic medication and the acute stress reaction with associated episodes of depression may have a negative influence on the modulation of brain waves and therefore the ability to concentrate over an extended period of time. Although BCIs seem to be a promising assistive technology for individuals with high spinal cord injury systematic investigations are highly needed to obtain realistic estimates of the percentage of users that for any reason may not be able to operate a BCI in a clinical setting.

Keywords: BCI performance; brain computer interface; clinical application; complications; neurorehabilitation; spinal cord injury.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Overview of factors limiting the successful use of different clinical BCI applications. The “long and winding road” of clinical applications of BCI. The height of each barrier encodes its priority.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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