Paralyzed Navigate Using Mind-Controlled Wheelchairs
Published: 2022-11-19
Author: Cell Press | Contact: cell.com
Peer-Reviewed Publication: Yes | DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105418
Additional References: Library of Mobility Aids and Devices Publications
Synopsis: Researchers demonstrate that tetraplegic users could operate mind-controlled wheelchairs in a natural, cluttered environment after training for an extended period. Tetraplegic people were recruited for the longitudinal study and underwent training sessions thrice weekly for 2 to 5 months. The participants wore a skullcap that detected their brain activities through electroencephalography (EEG), which would be converted to mechanical commands for the wheelchairs via a brain-machine interface device. By the end of the training, all participants were asked to drive their wheelchairs across a cluttered hospital room. They had to go around obstacles such as a room divider and hospital beds, which were set up to simulate the real-world environment.
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Definition
Tetraplegia
Tetraplegia is another term for Quadriplegia – they are the same condition. Tetraplegia is the inability to move the upper and lower parts of the body voluntarily. The areas of impaired mobility usually include the fingers, hands, arms, chest, legs, feet, and toes and may or may not include the head, neck, and shoulders. The paralysis may be flaccid or spastic. A loss of sensory [...]