This 1961 archive photo from UC Berkeley bears the caption, "Steely-nerved Magnet editor, Judy Golwyn, attempts nonchalance as Piero Ariotti attaches electrodes for 'mind-reading' experiment. At the EEG controls Cornelius Gaffey."
[Boffo flat top, daddy-o!]
Although neurofeedback has been dominated in recent years by dubious healers and earned some skepticism, it is not without merit and lately there are some interesting applications emerging.
For one, brain-computer interfaces with subjects self-regulating ERPs or SCPs through EEG are controlling Pong games to the delight of YouTube fans. There are more useful interfaces, though (not that Pong isn't useful!):
Neural Internet: Web Surfing with Brain Potentials for the Completely Paralyzed, Karim et al., Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 20, No. 4, 508-515 (2006)Abstract: Neural Internet is a new technological advancement in brain-computer interface research, which enables locked-in patients to operate a Web browser directly with their brain potentials [self-regulated SCPs]. Neural Internet was successfully tested with a locked-in patient diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis rendering him the first paralyzed person to surf the Internet solely by regulating his electrical brain activity. The functioning of Neural Internet and its clinical implications for motor-impaired patients are highlighted.
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Comments
I'd be interested in a cheap EEG that you could hook up via USB to a computer.
Anyone have such a thingy?
Posted by: Jon H | December 8, 2006 6:15 PM
you know... I think you're right Jon, I don't know why there isn't some cheap eeg usb thingee out there. then again I don't know anything about eeg's so maybe there's something really expensive about it.
Posted by: steve | December 9, 2006 1:27 PM
check out this link. I don't know if its USB or not.
http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/
Posted by: mickgrierson | December 10, 2006 10:56 AM
there's also an open source TMS project... which a little more scary.
Posted by: steve | December 10, 2006 12:16 PM
http://www.medtronic.com/intl/neurophysiology/brain-amplifier.html#28
Connects via PCMCIA card or TCP/IP port.
Posted by: Peter Bergsma | December 11, 2006 9:19 AM
http://www.medtronic.com/intl/neurophysiology/magpro.html
rTMS range of stimulators for clinical and research applications.
Posted by: peter bergsma | December 11, 2006 9:22 AM
But be sure to heed the dire WARNING before you set up your system at home!
Posted by: The Neurocritic | December 11, 2006 2:28 PM