The current state of electrocorticography-based brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) provide a way for the brain to interface directly with a computer. Many different brain signals can be used to control a device, varying in ease of recording, reliability, stability, temporal and spatial resolution, and noise. Electrocorticography (ECoG) electrodes provide a highly reliable signal from the human brain surface, and these signals have been used to decode movements, vision, and speech. ECoG-based BCIs are being developed to provide increased options for treatment and assistive devices for patients who have functional limitations. Decoding ECoG signals in real time provides direct feedback to the patient and can be used to control a cursor on a computer or an exoskeleton. In this review, the authors describe the current state of ECoG-based BCIs that are approaching clinical viability for restoring lost communication and motor function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or tetraplegia. These studies provide a proof of principle and the possibility that ECoG-based BCI technology may also be useful in the future for assisting in the cortical rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke.