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Patients with absolutely no control over their body have finally been able to communicate, say scientists.
A brain-computer interface was used to read the thoughts of patients to answer basic yes-or-no questions.
...
The patients all had advanced forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in which the brain loses the ability to control muscles.
It eventually traps people in their own body - they are able to think, but incapable of moving or talking.
When they become "locked in", it can still be possible to develop ways of communication using eye movements.
But all the patients in the study were "completely locked in" and could not even move their eyes.
Patients who have recovered from locked-in syndrome say being able to communicate makes a huge difference.
Kate Allatt, became locked in for five months when she had a stroke at the age of 39.
Unlike the patients in this study, she became able to communicate when her friends asked her to blink once for yes or twice for no.
She told the BBC: "It was phenomenal, that moment if you could wrap every single Christmas, every single birthday, every single child you've ever held in your arms for the first time - that was how exciting it was."
originally posted by: LuXTeN
a reply to: BuzzyWigs
That's great Buzzy, I wonder what they'd read if they used it on Murdering bastards in prison for life?