Usman Ayub Sheikh
Brain Computer Interfaces: Present and future

[19:40 - 20:00]

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a neuromuscular disorder commonly resulting from brain trauma or cerebrovascular disease. It is described as near-complete paralysis with preserved awareness and cognition. Patients suffering from LIS are left with severe deficits raging from restricted eye movement (classic LIS) to complete immobility (total LIS). More than half a million people worldwide are affected by LIS. Once an LIS patient has become medically stable, his life span can be significantly prolonged. With very minor chances of motor recovery, and thus a poor quality of life, medical experts often find themselves wondering if such a life is worth fighting for. Recent advances in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) can potentially redefine the quality of life for such patients by providing them with a muscle independent communication channel to communicate and interact with their environment.