IEEE trans: Use fNIRS-based BCI system to strengthen communication between patients with advanced ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also called motor neuron disease (MND), the latter name is commonly used in the United Kingdom, France is also called Charcot disease, and the United States is also called Lou Gehrig disease
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It is after the upper and lower motor neurons are injured, resulting in the gradual weakness and atrophy of the muscles including the bulb (the so-called bulb refers to the part of the muscles innervated by the medulla oblongata), limbs, trunk, chest and abdomen

Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based BCI is the most studied non-invasive BCI system used to establish communication for ALS patients because they can be conveniently used at the patient's bedside

Left: fNIRS montage

A statistical topographic map of each patient generated by SPM analysis of HbO2 concentration within [0-6] seconds after stimulation

In ALS-1 in patients with advanced LIS, two main hemodynamic patterns were observed
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One mode is ascending, reaching the maximum peak at 3.

The results of the study show that in ALS patients, especially those in the later stages of the disease, it is feasible to develop a BCI system that communicates and controls through fNIRS data
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In general, the results of this study provide a new direction for the development of fNIRS-based advanced ALS BCI programs