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Updated: May 11, 2026
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Translational Brain Mapping at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Preserving the Mind Through Personalized Brain Mapping
Published on: August 12, 2019
The brain's silent messenger: using selective attention to decode human thought for brain-based communication
Lorina Naci1, Rhodri Cusack, Vivian Z Jia
1The Brain and Mind Institute, Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada. lnaci@uwo.ca
Summary
Researchers decoded yes/no answers using selective attention and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This brain-based communication technique accurately interpreted thoughts, offering hope for non-verbal patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Decoding human thought from brain activity is a significant challenge in neuroscience.
- Patients with severe brain damage may lack behavioral responsiveness, necessitating alternative communication methods.
- Selective attention enhances neural representation but hasn't been used for brain-based communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if selective attention can be reliably used to decode binary (yes/no) answers from brain activity.
- To assess the effectiveness of this novel fMRI technique for communication.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in the study.
- Participants answered binary questions in an fMRI scanner by focusing on either "yes" or "no".
- Brain activity within the attention network was analyzed to decode the answers.
Main Results:
- Ninety percent of answers were decoded correctly.
- Most participants conveyed answers within 3 minutes of scanning.
- The novel fMRI technique showed improved success rates and reduced scanning times compared to existing methods.
Conclusions:
- Selective attention is a viable and effective modality for brain-based communication.
- This fMRI technique is robust, intuitive, and suitable for untrained individuals.
- Potential applications include communication with behaviorally nonresponsive patients.
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