Overview
The goal of this study is refine the usability of a BCI based communication platform.
The study will take place in the greater Los Angeles area and will enroll up to 10 participants with late stage ALS. Each subject will receive a Cognixion Axon-R augmented reality brain computer interface and associated communication software. The study duration is 3 months for each participant.
The key questions that will be addressed in this study are:
- How quickly can participants learn and gain confidence with a pure BCI interface.
- How effective are alternate input modalities including eye tracking for this use case.
- Identify the extent to which generative AI based personalization impacts the communication quality.
Key measures include:
ITR - information transfer rate SUS - system usability scale
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria:
- Must have someone (LAR) who can consent to their participation and who will be present in the study alongside the participant
- Must have a designated individual who can be trained on the Cognixion system
- Fluent in understanding English
- 18 years or older
- Must have ALS and need an assistive communication device
- Must be able to engage in volitional eye opening and sustain eye opening independently for x duration
- Must have a way to communicate apart from using the Cognixion device such as vocalizations, head nod, eye blinks, eyebrow raises, etc. At a minimum, reliable way of communicating "Yes" and "No"
Exclusion criteria:
- Disruption in English comprehension, either due to lack of fluent proficiency or due to a developmental/acquired language disorder (e.g. aphasia)
- Severely hearing impaired or deaf
- Sensitivity to flashing lights
- History of epilepsy and/or seizures
- Vision disorders restricting the visual field such as glaucoma, diplopia (double vision), nystagmus (involuntary eye movements)
- History of vertigo or other vestibular disorders
- Scalp that is prone to irritation, inflammation, injury, or infectious process