The mind-reading computer that could communicate with coma patients: Groundbreaking system can understand answers to simple questions from brain scans

The mind-reading computer that could communicate with coma patients: Groundbreaking system can understand answers to simple questions from brain scans Participants were able to answer questions just by thinking about their answer System can already distinguish between yes and no answers Canadian researchers have developing a mind-reading computer that could help communicate with people in a coma. The University of Western Ontario researchers used neuroimaging to read human thoughts via brain activity when they are conveying specific ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. The brain scans that reveal what we are thinking: The team found brain activity could reveal the answer to simple questions - and could be used to communicate with patients in a coma HOW THEY DID IT In the study, participants were asked to concentrate on a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response to questions like 'Are you married?' The team hope the research could one day lead to instant communication with patients in a vegetative state 'This novel method allowed healthy individuals to answers questions asked in the scanner, simply by paying attention to the word they wanted to convey.