Brain-computer interface for assessing consciousness in severely brain-injured patients

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are tools that allow overcoming motor disability in patients with brain injury, allowing them to communicate with the environment. This chapter reviews studies on BCI applications in patients with disorders of consciousness, including EEG and fMRI applications, with a critical appraisal regarding false-positive and false-negative results. The role of steady-state visually evoked potentials and of the cognitive evoked potential P3 (or P300) will be highlighted. Future research has to overcome several challenges limiting current BCI application in routine practice and provide more reliable tools for diagnosis. Alternative protocols might be of interest in the development of easy-to-use systems for caregivers.