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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
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Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
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Brain-Computer Interfaces for Communication in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: A Gap Analysis and
Nicholas D Schiff1, Michael Diringer2, Karin Diserens3
1Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. nds2001@med.cornell.edu.
Neurocritical Care
|January 29, 2024
Summary
This study analyzes brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC), identifying gaps and a roadmap to improve communication and environmental engagement for adults and children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) present significant challenges in patient assessment and communication.
- Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) offer potential solutions for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a gap analysis on the application of BCI in patients with DoC.
- To focus on assessment, communication establishment, and environmental engagement for DoC patients using BCI.
Main Methods:
- Convened a Coma Science work group of 16 experts in DoC.
- Conducted biweekly online meetings to perform a gap analysis.
- Reviewed preliminary studies on BCI for DoC.
Main Results:
- Outlined a roadmap for assessing BCI readiness and advancing BCI device use in DoC.
- Addressed challenges from heterogeneous brain injuries impacting neuronal signaling.
- Considered one-way vs. two-way communication and BCI solutions for diverse DoC populations.
Conclusions:
- Identified clinical and technical gaps hindering BCI use in DoC.
- Provided a research roadmap to enhance communication for DoC patients across care settings.
