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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Progression Presents Difficulties in Brain Computer Interface Use

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Advances in Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering (AHFE 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 259))

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Abstract

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems potentially provide those with disabilities an alternative means to communicate and control their environment, increasing independence and quality of life. The goal of our study was to examine the effect of disease progression on the efficiency of communication using a P300 BCI speller. To address this, BCI data was analyzed from 19 people living with ALS at various stages of disease. Accuracy in word spelling showed significant correlation to ALSFRS-R score, a measure of disease severity and worsening function, with decreased accuracy as the disease progressed. This decrease in accuracy may be attributed to system components and methodology that lead to an increase in fatigue for people with less function, but alternatively may be due to the progressive changes in neural networks as the patient progresses. Adjustments to BCI systems, use of alternative event potentials, or alternative technologies may be necessary to optimize BCI use in ALS.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants, ALS Hope Foundation, and former students who collected the data: J. Moraveck, R. Mareck, M. Chin, T. Montez, D. Richter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Engineering Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Emma Dryden, Mohammad Sahal & Hasan Ayaz

  2. Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Sara Feldman & Terry Heiman-Patterson

  3. Solutions Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hasan Ayaz

  4. Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hasan Ayaz

  5. Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hasan Ayaz

  6. Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hasan Ayaz

Authors
  1. Emma Dryden
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  2. Mohammad Sahal
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  3. Sara Feldman
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  4. Hasan Ayaz
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  5. Terry Heiman-Patterson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emma Dryden .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Hasan Ayaz

  2. School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

    Umer Asgher

  3. DIGITAL – Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Graz, Austria

    Lucas Paletta

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Dryden, E., Sahal, M., Feldman, S., Ayaz, H., Heiman-Patterson, T. (2021). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Progression Presents Difficulties in Brain Computer Interface Use. In: Ayaz, H., Asgher, U., Paletta, L. (eds) Advances in Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering. AHFE 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 259. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80285-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80285-1_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80284-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80285-1

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