On January 23, Bretton Woods played host to the annual Vertical Challenge for Brain Injury Awareness skiing event. Twenty-four teams met in New Hampshire to compete and raise money and awareness about brain injuries. Last year’s event raised over $20,000 for the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, a Ski Channel news article reported.

The Ski Channel reported that the event provides much-needed support to over 5,000 New Hampshire residents with brain injuries and stroke. Teams of skiers from around New Hampshire joined in the event. Each team gathered donations in a competition to make the highest financial contribution.

The One Sky Ski Gulls of Portsmouth, New Hampshire raised the most funds this year with $2,800 to bring this year’s event total to more than $18,000. The money will be used to provide support for brain-injured soldiers and their loved ones, Seacoast Online release.

The Ski Gulls team was made up of employees of One Sky Community Services of Portsmouth, a “private, non-profit agency that contracts with the state of New Hampshire to assist people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorders to live as independently as possible in their communities,” the article noted.

The Vertical Challenge Web site detailed the two programs that receive support from the fundraising efforts.  The Neuro-Resource Facilitation program and the Outreach Program will each receive a portion of the $18,000 generated by this year’s event. The Neuro-Resource Facilitation program reportedly “presents the best service options to enable: informed decision making, consumer choice, maximized independence, and continuous quality of life.”

The Outreach project provides information to families and brain injury sufferers both at the hospital just after the injury occurs and later when patients need help with the recovery process. The Vertical Challenge Web site reported that the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire’s mission is “to promote awareness, understanding and prevention of brain injuries through education, advocacy and community support services that lead toward reduced incidence and improved outcomes of children and adults with brain injuries.”

References:

Gilbert, Dot, and Vertical Challenge for Brain Injury Awareness Staff. (January, 2010) “VERTICAL CHALLENGE for Brain Injury Awareness” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the Brain Injury Awareness of New Hampshire Web sites: http://www.verticalchallengebianh.org/ and http://www.verticalchallengebianh.org/about_bianh.htm

Press Release. (January 26, 2010) “Ski Gulls raise $2800 to help soldiers with brain injuries.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the Seacoast Online Web site: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100126-NEWS-100129836

The Ski Channel Staff. (January 20, 2010) “How a ski team raises money for brain injury awareness.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the Ski Channel Web site: http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skinews/20100120/How-a-ski-team-raises-money-for-brain-injury-awareness

Study results published in a recent edition of the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation revealed that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) could have lasting debilitating effects on locomotor functioning, even in patients who have otherwise achieved a full recovery, according to a EurekAlert news release.

Bradford McFadyen at Université Laval in Quebec City, Quebec, headed the study, which was designed to compare mobility in simulations of everyday problem-solving situations. A laboratory was constructed and equipped with various obstacles and distractions to test responsiveness and locomotor ability under various conditions.

The study results revealed that the non-TBI control group performed similarly to the recovered TBI survivors in a mobility test involving no distractions or obstacles. The TBI group’s speed dropped and response time increased as more distractions and obstacles were added to the walking course. “Moreover, the clearance of the subject’s foot over the obstacle was shorter for the “TBI” group,” the press release added.

The press release quoted Professor McFadyen who said, “Our results suggest that even if victims of moderate or severe TBI appear to have generally recovered their locomotor abilities, deficits can persist.” He added, “This could have consequences if the affected people work in a complex physical environment—a factory, for example—or engage in activities that are demanding in terms of locomotor skills, such as a sport.”

McFadyen and his team of researchers have begun to develop a clinical mobility test to give health care professionals a more accurate gauge of what each individual TBI survivor is capable of. This will likely lead to safer and more effective assessments of the locomotor limitations some patients may suffer from in the long-term.

McFadyen and his colleague’s research might open doors to increasingly personally tailored treatment and recovery strategies, as well as keeping children, athlete, and other TBI survivors from returning to school, sports, and work too soon after achieving what might prove a less-than-complete full recovery.

References:

Huppe, Jean-Francois. (January 19, 2010) “Traumatic brain injuries: Motor deficits can persist even after what appears to be a full recovery.” Retrieved on January 25, 2010 from the EurekAlert Web site: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/ul-tbi011910.php

Melody Gardot traveled a long, hard road from a traumatic brain injury she suffered in Philadelphia all the way to a number one song and double-platinum album sales in France. An interview piece on CBS Sunday Morning detailed Melody’s journey of recovery and, finally, grand success.

At age 19, Melody was riding her bike near the University she attended in Pennsylvania. A jeep struck her after the driver ran a red light. The accident left Melody with a broken pelvis, a damaged spine, and a traumatic brain injury, CBS reported. The damage didn’t stop there. Melody, now 25, still uses a cane to walk and has an extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

After undoing various treatments including therapy and pharmaceutical drugs, Melody’s doctor suggested she try music as a possible path toward recovery. She had played piano in college before her accident. CBS reported, “Gardot never gave up. Slowly… it would take years… music therapy began to rebuild the neural pathways in her brain.”

Not only did Melody regain access to more neural pathways in her brain, but also she went on to achieve huge success as a musician. CBS reported that Melody’s musical talent was recognized and rapidly gained in popularity after some of her songs were posted on MySpace in 2006.

Melody told CBS that she was addicted to performing, since “the first maybe half a dozen times experiencing this, that was the only 30 minutes in my life that I did not feel pain for that moment.” While her recovery is not as complete as she’d like – she said that the sound of her mother dropping a plate made her collapse, and she must wear dark glasses due to light sensitivity – she has achieved a tremendous level of success.

Melody’s bluesy voice and haunting lyrics played in the background of the CBS interview, “Well, I’m buckled up inside, Miracle that I’m alive…” When asked by Anthony Mason how she went from music therapy to double-platinum star, Melody replied, “That is almost a question for God.”

References:

Mason, Anthony. (January 24, 2010) “How Melody Gardot Found Her Voice.” Retrieved on January 25, 2010 from the CBS Sunday Morning Web sites: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/24/sunday/main6136473.shtml and http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6136503n

So many sci-fi technology fantasies from the last century have already come true, trying to keep up with them can easily make a humanoid’s head explode. Everything from a highly complex tongue-controlled computer system and smart house to tongue-controlled wheelchairs, prosthetics, and even tooth-based keyboards might soon appear on global markets. Various tongue-based interfaces and devices are being developed to assist paralyzed survivors of stroke, ALS, and severe spinal cord injury.

A cnet news piece reported on progress being made by Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) engineers to allow wheelchair-bound injury survivors to drive their wheelchair with nothing but their tongues. The group’s Tongue Drive System promises to deliver an immediate increase in mobility and quality of life to the world’s millions of spinal cord injury survivors and others.

Without a doubt, the research will not stop with tongue-controlled devices. Recent articles on this blog have described advances in brain-controlled interfaces (BCIs). However, the high cost and invasive procedures required for some BCIs make them undesirable for many patients. Tongue-controlled devices will open immediate doors without the need for a craniotomy or other risky brain surgeries.

A techradar article reported in 2008 that a Palo Alto company had designed a nine-button keypad for the roof of the mouth controlled by pressing its keys with the tongue. The GIT system makes use of a tiny magnet, sensors in the cheeks, and a helmet that interprets the tongue motions. Maysam Ghovanloo, the lead researcher on the GIT team said, “You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue,” in the techradar article.

The GIT research attracted national attention in the form of monetary appreciation of $270,000 in combined donations from the National Science Foundation and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the article noted. A recent CNN article reported on the progress of the GIT researchers who are currently conducting clinical trials of their technology at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

According to the researchers, the tongue provides many improvements over past attempts at increased mobility. Ghovanloo told CNN, “One of the major advantages of the tongue is that it’s directly connected to the brain,”… “The tongue is unlike the rest of the body, which is connected to the brain through the spinal cord. A patient who has even the highest level of spinal cord injury can still move his or her tongue like me or you.” Although the tongue does appear to have some advantages over similar technologies, the future of BCIs remains to be seen.
Brain-computer interfaces could one day offer spinal cord injury survivors to recover full mobility, sensory experience of prosthetic limbs on a neurological level, and control electronic devices around the home. MarketWatch reported this month that Hitachi Ltd. “has developed a prototype remote control that allows users to operate electronic devices telepathically – simply willing the television channel to change or the air-conditioning to turn on.”

Hitachi’s device consists of a headset that measures the brain’s blood flow changes and a remote control capable of sending signals to electronic devices in the home, the article reported. Don’t go out looking for the device just yet. Hitachi doesn’t plan to release it on the market until 2013 or later. MarketWatch also reported that Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Corp. both have plans to develop BCI technology.

BCIs are certainly gaining a lot of steam in the world of science and academia. Rod Furlan from the Singularity Hub Web site reported on an X PRIZE Foundation BCI workshop at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to Furlan’s post, “The workshop brought together over 50 leading experts, students and enthusiasts with the objective of brainstorming ideas for an X PRIZE competition to accelerate the development of BCI solutions,” … “we had the opportunity to explore the many possibilities and difficulties of designing and implementing devices capable of communicating directly with the human brain.”

Spinal cord injury survivors have a fascinating and hopeful future to look forward to in the realm of BCIs and tongue-based mobility expansion options. One might even imagine a future where paralysis is curable in a multitude of creative and exciting ways, and sufferers of disease and brain injury can achieve full recoveries with the aid of a blend of technology, science, and ingenuity.

References:

Furlan, Rod. (January 21, 2010) “Igniting a Brain-Computer Interface Revolution-BCI X PRIZE.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the Singularity Hub Web site: http://singularityhub.com/2010/01/21/igniting-a-brain-computer-interface-revolution-bci-x-prize/

Gothard, Peter. (August 27, 2008) “Human tongue turned into computer.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the techradar Web site: http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/human-tongue-turned-into-computer-459614

Hartley, Adam. (January 26, 2010) “Scientists develop tongue-controlled wheelchair.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the techradar Web site: http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/scientists-develop-tongue-controlled-wheelchair-666129

MarketWatch. (January 4, 2010) “Hitachi reportedly develops brain-powered remote control.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the MarketWatch Web site: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hitachi-develops-brain-powered-remote-control-2010-01-04?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Olsen, Stephanie. (August 25, 2008) “Tech lets tongue drive the PC, wheelchair.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the cnet news Web site: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10024983-76.html

Willingham, Val. (January 25, 2010) “Wheelchair mobility at the tip of the tongue.” Retrieved on January 26, 2010 from the CNN Web site: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/25/hm.wheelchair.tongue/?hpt=Sbin

Dave Irwin (2nd from R) and the Crazy Canucks at the 1976 Winter Olympics. (Courtesy Canada's History Society)

Dave Irwin is an accomplished skier who raced in the Olympic Games in 1976 at Innsbruck and in 1980 at Lake Placid. Just before he and his team of “Crazy Canucks” became famous for their daredevil recklessness, Irwin had already endured a concussion, a Montreal Gazette article reported. He suffered another concussion – now more widely understood as a brain injury – just before skiing at the 1980 Olympic Games.

Irwin feels it was a mistake for the Olympic authorities to have let him race in both Olympic Games, considering the seriousness of his concussions and the heavy risk of enduring another more serious brain injury. He told the Gazette, “It was amazing they let me race. They didn’t have a clue about brain injuries back then and barely had a name for it.”

Multiple concussions can have intensified long-term effects, even if the injury seems minor when it occurs. Irwin said of his second concussion, “It was the same kind of brain injury but a much bigger magnitude because it compounds,” the Gazette article reported.

In 2001, Irwin suffered a traumatic brain injury from a ski crash that left him in a coma for two weeks. After he woke up, his memory would never be the same. Since enduring the traumatic brain injury, Irwin founded the Dave Irwin Foundation for Brain Injury. The foundation was designed mainly in order to help Canadians with brain injuries get around easier during their recoveries. They do this in part by helping to fund research and to educate the public about how to prevent and how to seek treatment for brain injuries.

Irwin still skies and keeps up on ski racing on TV. Although he lost parts of his memory and suffered other brain dysfunctions, “Irwin says he has no regrets,” the article reported. This year, Irwin carried the Olympic torch for a portion of the traditional run. He said he was not carrying the torch as a former athlete. Instead, he was carrying it for all Canadians with brain injuries. With any luck, Irwin’s work will inspire the Olympic and other professional and amateur sports authorities to devote more attention to preventing brain injuries.

References:

Inwood, Damien. (January 23, 2010) “Crazy Canuck’ carries Olympic flame for brain-injured Canadians.” Retrieved on January 24, 2010 from the Montreal Gazette Web site: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/2010wintergames/Crazy+Canuck+carries+Olympic+flame+brain+injured+Canadians/2478013/story.html

If someone you know had a concussion from playing sports or hitting their head, would you take it as seriously as if they had suffered a mild traumatic brain injury? Findings of a recent study suggest that doctors treat concussions with less concern than mild traumatic brain injuries, although both terms indicate the same condition, WebMD reported.

Scientists at McMaster University conducted a study to determine the difference in doctors’ perceptions and treatments of concussions vs. mild traumatic brain injuries. WebMD reported that the findings “say doctors consider traumatic brain injury and concussion as two separate diagnostic categories, when in truth, both reflect brain injury.”

Doctors analyzed medical records of over 400 children who had been hospitalized in Canada for acquired brain injury. They found that the children who received the diagnosis of concussion were consistently discharged from the hospital earlier than those diagnosed with brain injuries. The concussion group of children also returned to school earlier on average than the brain injury group. WebMD reported that 32 percent of the 341 traumatic brain injury medical records in the study indicated “concussion.”

A researcher of the study, Carol A. DeMatteo, MSC, said in a news release, “Our study suggests that if a child is given a diagnosis of a concussion, the family is less likely to consider it an actual injury to the brain,” She added that students who return to school and other activities too early after concussion run the risk of further brain injury, confusion, and a decline in academic performance. The researchers suggested that concussions be referred to as mild traumatic brain injuries to help elicit a more serious response from doctors and parents.

The researchers also said that the guidelines for diagnosing concussions are confusing and misleading. “There are currently at least eight difference scales for concussion, with no universal agreement on the definition or grades of concussion,” WebMD reported. The symptoms diagnosed as concussion can range from a momentary loss of consciousness to a possibly fatal coma. The scientists say this is not scientific or accurate enough to elicit proper treatments for serious brain injuries.

As awareness about the seriousness of concussions increases, the term may soon fall into disuse in favor of the more descriptive term, “mild traumatic brain injury.” Hopefully, this will ensure that children who suffer head injuries will receive the best and most comprehensive treatment available.

References:

Hendrick, Bill. (January 19, 2010) “Concussions Not Taken Seriously.” Retrieved on January 25, 2010 from the WebMD Web site: http://children.webmd.com/news/20100119/concussions-not-taken-seriously

Doctors in Atlanta, Georgia, working as part of a team funded completely by the Maryland company Neuralstem Inc., recently injected neural stem cells into the spinal cord of a 60-year-old man who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A CNN Medical News article reported that Neuralstem Inc. is currently conducting a study to determine the safety of stem cell injections into the spinal cords of patients with ALS.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to the breakdown of motor neurons in the spinal cords and brains of its victims. Motor neurons control the movement of muscles in the body. The FDA approved Neuralstem Inc. study is a major advance toward developing stem cell therapies for brain and spinal cord injury sufferers. The science director of the ALS Association, Lucie Bruijn, told CNN, “This is the first study to see if the invasive injection into the spinal cord is safe for the patient.”

Previous studies involving other kinds of stem cells have been performed outside the United States, but none of them have been as rigorous as the current study. The doctors involved in the study said that the stem cells would not become motor neurons. Instead, they hypothesized, the stem cell injections will slow down the deterioration of remaining motor neurons in the ALS patients’ spinal cords.

The study will involve about 12 ALS patients. Doctors will inject the neural stem cells into a lower portion of the spinal cord responsible for leg movement, since ALS patients tend to lose the use of their legs early in the progression of the disease, CNN reported. The chairman and chief scientific officer of Neuralstem Inc., Karl Johe, created a technology that enables the company to make billions of copies of stem cells. The copying process allowed Neuralstem Inc. scientists to use a single source of the cells – the spinal cord of an eight-week-old fetus that was donated to the company.

The FDA approved another company, Geron Corporation out of California, to inject stem cells into human subjects. While they received approval in early 2009, their trials have not yet begun. While it is important to remain cautious until the treatment is better developed and proven safe, spinal cord and brain injury patients might soon see the benefits of stem cell treatments as research progresses.

References:

Falco, Miriam. (Jannuary 21, 2010) “First U.S. stem cells transplanted into spinal cord.” Retrieved on January 24, 2010 from the CNN Health Web site: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/21/stem.cell.spine/

As we reported previously, Olympic hopeful Kevin Pearce suffered a severe traumatic brain injury after hitting his head on a half-pipe of solid ice while training for an Olympics-qualifier in Mammoth Lakes, California.  Our last article reported that Pearce was unconscious in critical condition in a Utah hospital. Since then, the snowboarder has returned to consciousness and is taking part in his own recovery as best he can.

A recent ESPN article quoted Kevin’s doctors about his condition. Elaine Skalabrin, MD, one of Kevin’s doctors, said, “Kevin continues to improve and is actively participating in his therapies. He is making progress on a daily basis,” the article mentioned. Last week, Kevin was relieved to have his breathing tube removed and his condition upgraded from “critical” to “serious.”

Kevin’s family told ESPN, “We cannot say enough good things about the doctors, nurses, and support staff here at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. They have shown Kevin and our family the best of what modern medicine can offer and have been completely caring and supportive throughout this entire process. We extend our heartfelt appreciation and admiration to everyone involved Kevin’s recovery.”

A Los Angeles Times article detailed how many of Kevin’s snowboarder friends were lending public support for Kevin at their snowboarding runs. The article reported that snowboarders Danny Davis and Hannah Teter, as well as coach Mike Jankowski, all had Kevin in their thoughts and minds while boarding at the Mammoth Lakes Olympics qualifier.

The Los Angeles Times article reported, “The finish area was dotted with signs of all shapes and colors honoring Pearce, who, before Davis, had been one of the rare riders to defeat 2006 Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. Davis, at the awards ceremony, held up one sign: “Pearce Be With You.” “ On the public support Facebook page setup by Kevin’s family and maintained by his brother Adam, there are thousands of comments and well wishes for the injured snowboarder.

Some of the most recent comments read: “I just checked for Adam’s update as is my evening ritual and I am so happy to hear Kevin is enjoying music. I was in Stratton, Vermont on Dec. 31, 2009 when I heard the news about Kevin and I have been thinking of the entire Pearce family since then. It is so wonderful to hear of Kevins positive progress in his road to recovery. I wish you all the best Kevin!”

“I just got done watching all of your vids on youtube and it made me realize that once you are in good health YOU WILL BE THE BEST SNOWBOARDER THAT HAS EVER LIVED!! get well soon, best wishes from VT.”

“Kevin, I am from NH and have been following your progress through our local media. I pray that you have a speedy recovery. What a great family you have. With their support I am sure you will make it through just fine. As a mom of 2 boys I think about you often. Please get well soon.”

Kevin’s brother Adam reported that Kevin was listening to music and that he gave a thumbs-up when his family read the scores of cards and well wishes he has received since undergoing his New Year’s tragic injury. The Facebook page read, “Playing a bunch of Neil Young, Dylan and Marley for Kev to keep the mood right…Seems to be working…Also want to send our love and positive energy to our good friend Danny Davis.-Adam”

The final comment referred to Danny Davis, who is currently undergoing treatment for his own injury. Danny Davis was injured in a non-snowboarding related ATV accident in which one of his vertebrae was broken. We wish both Danny and Kevin a full and swift recovery. Check back for more updates about Kevin Pearce and Danny Davis.

References:

Brain and Spinal Cord Staff. (January 6, 2010) “Olympic snowboarding hopeful remains in hospital with traumatic brain injury.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the Brain and Spinal Cord Web site: http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2010/01/06/olympic-snowboarding-hopeful-remains-in-hospital-with-traumatic-brain-injury/

Brain and Spinal Cord Staff. (January 12, 2010) “Update on snowboarder Kevin Pearce: consciousness returns, still in serious condition.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the Brain and Spinal Cord Web site: http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2010/01/12/update-on-snowboarder-kevin-pearce-consciousness-returns-still-in-serious-condition/

Dillman, Lisa. (January 19, 2010) “Danny Davis to miss Olympic Games after accident.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the Los Angeles Times Web site: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-us-snowboard-team19-2010jan19,0,3124011.story

Dillman, Lisa. (January 15, 2010) “Kevin Pearce is in the hearts and minds of snowboarders at competition.” Retrieved on January 19, 2010 from the Los Angeles Times website: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kevin-pearce15-2010jan15,0,6178775.story

ESPN Action Sports. (January 21, 2010) “Kevin Pearce makes encouraging progress.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the ESPN Web site: http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/news/story?id=4786214

Facebook Page. (January 21, 2010) “Well Wishes to our Friend Kevin Pearce.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the Facebook Web sites: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Well-Wishes-to-our-Frend-Kevin-Pearce/232366118918?ref=ts and http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=441592710240

Survivor’s Club Staff. (January 21, 2010) “Doctors report Kevin Pearce making better than expected progress after accident.” Retrieved on January 21, 2010 from the Survivor’s Club Web site: http://www.thesurvivorsclub.org/news-and-articles/doctors-report-kevin-pearce-making-better-than-expected-progress-after-accident-_231.html

South African scientist Henry Markram is developing what he hopes will be “the world’s first fully conscious, artificial human brain,” a Times Live article reported. Not only could the technology lead to extremely accurate diagnosis and efficient, effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other brain dysfunctions, it could also give scientists and doctors a window into treatments for traumatic brain injuries.

The Times Live article reported that Markram’s research has developed beyond any other comparable research in the U.S. and the U.K. In addition to the development of potential medical benefits, Markram’s computer-build model of the human brain could also lead to the discovery of the origins of consciousness and the inner workings of intelligence. Markram told the Times, “We want to understand how consciousness emerges. It comes out of the brain, it doesn’t come from the sky, it doesn’t come from some magical place.”

Markram’s work on the Blue Brain Project began three years ago. The group has managed to create a pinpoint-sized piece of a rat’s brain, and they hope to use similar computerized methods to build an entire human brainincluding consciousness and personalityin only eight years.

While a fully functional computer-built model of a living, conscious human brain holds the potential to revolutionize science’s understanding of the workings of the mysterious organ, opponents of Markram’s work worry that his success will create an ethical nightmare. The idea of an artificially produced brain connected to a computer without a human body is somewhat startling.

Markram admitted that difficulties might arise. He said, “If it becomes conscious, perhaps it would experience pain. That would raise a lot of philosophical issues.” He added that the brain his team creates might end up being smarter than a human brain. The implications of an artificial intelligence the becomes smarter than the humans who created it have been dealt with in a wide range of science fiction stories, from leisurely utopias to horrific warlike robotic futures.

Time will tell how computers and the human brain will interact in the future. Who knows? If the artificial brain delivers on all the speculations of Markram and his team, brain disorders and permanent brain damage from traumatic brain injuries could be a thing of the past.

References:

Ferreira, Anton. (January 17, 2010) “Blue Brain Project can save the planet.” Retrieved on January 17, 2010 from the Times Live Web site: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article264325.ece

Soon, people suffering from ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, and brain damage from traumatic brain injuries will be able to enhance their memories while being analyzed and monitored by computerized assistants with human faces. An article in Wired detailed the possibilities being explored by various companies in the search for more effective and efficient treatment for the many veterans returning to the United States with brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mercury News reported recently that Intel has invested large amounts of money on research and development of thought-controlled devices, otherwise known as brain-computer interfaces. Research is underway to determine the best way to harness the power of thought. The internal method requires a craniotomy to implant electrodes in or upon the brain, while the external method consists of applying electrodes to the scalp to monitor brainwaves.

The implications of the research could hold many benefits for spinal cord injury sufferers and traumatic brain injury survivors. Electrodes implanted directly into a patient’s brain may control prosthetic limbs of the near future. The devices might even include some kind of sensors to simulate the sensation of touch along the prosthetic skin.

Monitoring devices grow increasingly complex, as companies develop computers that can collect psychological data. Attention Control Systems Inc. is developing a bot that will, “collect psychological data, detect panic attacks and measure psychological symptoms,” according to the Wired article.

For veterans suffering with the symptoms of traumatic brain injury, the military has invested in high-tech schedulers to remind patients to complete various tasks, to help them stay focused throughout the day, and to monitor their movement and give them prompts when necessary.

With current advances in neurology, electronics, brain-computer interfaces, wireless technology, biotechnology, genetics, stem cells, and prosthetics, the future looks bright for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury survivors.

References:

Drummond, Katie. (April 15, 2009) “Pentagon’s New PTSD Treatments: Wireless Monitors, Software Pals.” Retrieved on January 17, 2010 from the Wired Web site: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/04/pentagons-new-p/

Johnson, Steve. (January 17, 2010) “Intel joins search for thought-controlled cell phones, TVs and computers.” Retrieved on January 17, 2010 from the Mercury News Web site: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14192702