New "Mind-Reading" Device Designed to Help Cerebral Palsy Kids

For thousands of kids with cerebral palsy, movement and speech are extremely difficult undertakings. Simple tasks like putting on clothes and communicating with one's family are monumental tasks.

Scientists at Bloorview Kids Rehab in Toronto have developed a device that involves a mind-reading sort of procedure. The device uses near-infared light to decipher the brain's response when a person is offered a choice between objects. In a study of nine adults which was published this month in the Journal of Neural Engineering, the scientists were able to decode a person's preference for one of two drinks that were showing on a computer screen with an average accuracy of around 80 per cent.

According to Sheena Luu, a PhD student in biomedical engineering, these devices shine light onto the forehead and detectors measure the light's intensity when it bounces back out.

When a region of the brain becomes active, it typically requires more oxygen, Luu says. "This increase in oxygen concentration changes the absorption of light that passes through that brain tissue."

Simply amazing, huh?

Karen Castelane has a 15-year-old son who was born with severe spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy and she is quite excited about the possibility of him trying out technology one day.

I can think of more than a few families who have children with cerebral palsy who would benefit from this!