A computer that enables users to paint through the power of thought has been developed by scientists.
To the viewer it is an accomplished semiabstract image of flowers and clouds, but in fact this painting was produced by a paralysed woman solely through the power of thought.
Heide Pfützner, a former teacher from Leipzig, Germany, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Motor Neurone Disease, yet she has managed to produce a series of the paintings with the aid of a new brain controlled computer.
She has been trained to master the device that uses brain waves to take control of a palette of colours, shapes and brushes to produce digital artworks.
Building on decades of knowledge about the meaning of the tiny electrical impulses created by the brain during thought, scientists have been able to create a computer programme which translates thoughts into electronic images.
As well as helping patients with progressive brain diseases like Mrs Pfützner, other users of the device include those who are "locked in" to a physically unresponsive state and therefore unable to communicate with the rest of the world.
The system works by detecting changes in the pattern of the user’s brain waves to allow them to select options in software and to move a cursor around a screen in front of them.
When The Telegraph tested the device in an attempt to replicate Vincent Van Gogh’s famous still life of a vase of sunflowers, it took several hours to produce a simple drawing of a bunch of flowers in a pot.
However, the researchers behind the technology are now working on a new device that can be implanted directly into the brain to allow computers to directly translate a person’s thoughts.
They hope that it will make controlling computers faster and easier by simply giving commands by thinking.
"At the moment the interface works like simple paint software where you have to select options using your thoughts," said Dr Christoph Guger, who has led the team developing the system at technology company gTech near Linz, Austria.
"If you implant electrodes into the cortex (the outer layer of the brain) you can get a much higher resolution – it allows you decode single finger movements and voice with a very high speed. It can then start to recognise your intentions."
The current technology uses a cap with electrodes embedded in it. These detect tiny changes in the electricity coming from the user’s brain that occur as they think.
By concentrating on one of a series of options – such as a tool to draw a circle or a line, to select a colour and to alter its transparency – the software can detect what the user would like to do.
This works as each option flashes in turn and the user must count each time the option they want to select flashes.
This counting creates spikes of brain activity, which the computer can use to determine which option was being concentrated on by comparing the timing of these spikes to which option was flashing at that moment.
The scientists, who began their work on the device at Graz University of Technology and are now part of a European consortium to develop new brain technology, have found that by flashing familiar faces, such as those of celebrities or from the family of the user, over each option can help to boost the signal from the brain and reduce the risk of errors.
Dr Guger said: "Ten years ago we needed a whole week of training to get enough data for it to work accurately but now we need just five minutes or less.
"The painting device developed out of the work we were doing with patients to post messages on Facebook and Twitter.
"Painting is a form of self expression and allows them to be much more creative."
Mrs Pfützner's condition has left her completely paralysed and only able to move her eyes.
The mother-of-four has tested the brain painting device to create a collection of abstract colourful shapes and patterns, which she now sells online. In July she is due to exhibit her work in Easdale, near Oban.
She said: "I had never been fond of technical equipment, and despised working with a computer.
"Brain Computer Interface is a breakthrough technology that enables me with my thoughts, to create art. Concentration and thoughts create expressive images.
"For the first time, this project gives me the opportunity to show the world that the ALS has not been the end of my life."
Javi Rodriguez, an engineer at gTech who has been developing the brain painting device, believes the technology could also be used to spot whether patients are in comas or a locked in state, where they are conscious but cannot move.
He said: "It can be very difficult to tell if a patient is in true coma or if they are locked in. The idea is provide a test to monitor the state of a patient.
"They are given instructions via some headphones or touch and we can look for the brain activity as they respond.
"It can have big implications as the way you treat that patient. For the families it can make a big difference too, as they are far more likely to visit and speak to their loved one if they know they can hear them.
"Beyond this we could also help these patients to communicate with their family."
The scientists are now working with researchers in Japan to develop the brain implant technology that could be used to make future devices easier to use, although patients would be required to undergo surgery.
Professor Kyousuke Kamada, from Ashahikawa Medical University, said: "The patient intentions such as "switch on the lights" or "draw a circle" can be easily classified by our technique.
"We are planning to decode more fine information such as what patients which to say, how they are thinking and internal words of the patients for development of communication-based brain machine interfaces."
Other groups are also working on devices that allow patients to control robots and drive wheel chairs with their thoughts.
By Richard Gray / Source: The Telegraph
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