Harnessing The Power Of The Brain

Scott Pelley Reports How Brain Computer Interface May Help The Paralyzed In The Future

(CBS)  Once in a while, we run across a science story that is hard to believe until you see it. That's how we felt about this story when we first saw human beings operating computers, writing e-mails, and driving wheelchairs with nothing but their thoughts.

Quietly in a number of laboratories, an astounding technology is developing that directly connects the human brain to a computer. It's like a sudden leap in human evolution - a leap that could one day help paralyzed people to walk again and amputees to move bionic limbs. As correspondent Scott Pelley reports, the connection has already been made for a few people, and for them it has been life changing.

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Scott Mackler was a husband, father and successful neuroscientist when he received perhaps the worst news imaginable. At the age of 40, he could run a marathon in three and a half hours, but it was about that time he discovered he had ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

His brain was losing its connection to virtually every muscle in his body. The near-total paralysis would also stop his lungs. He didn't want to live on a ventilator, so nine years ago he recorded this message for his two sons.

"I know the future holds lot of love and joy and pride and that life goes on and I’ll be watching you along the way and I love you very much and I'll see ya," he said in a home video.

Today, Scott Mackler's mind is sharp as ever, but his body has failed. Doctors call it "locked in" syndrome. Scott and his wife Lynn learned to communicate with about the only thing he has left, eye movement.

To signal "yes," Lynn says Scott looks at her; to signal "no," he looks away.

But recently Scott found a new voice. "Can everyone hear the PC? I apologize for the quality of the voice," he asked in writing.

Scott wrote these words, one letter at a time, with nothing but his thoughts and the help of what's called a brain computer interface or "BCI." He wears a cap that picks up the electrical activity of his brain and allows him to select letters simply by thinking about them. Then the computer turns his sentences into speech.

"I hate being helpless and when other people put words in my mouth," he wrote.

"Well, this is a very unusual interview for 60 Minutes. We've done something we never, ever do, and that is we've submitted the questions in advance because it takes Scott a little while to put the answers together using the BCI device," Pelley remarks. "Scott, I understand that earlier in the progression of this disease you said that, at the point you had to go on a ventilator you didn't wanna go on anymore, but today you are on a ventilator. And I'm curious about what changed your mind?"

"Because I can still communicate," Scott replied, with the help of the BCI device.

It isn't fast. It takes 20 seconds or so to select each letter. Scott told 60 Minutes it took him about an hour to write the answers to our 16 questions. But he writes well enough to continue his research and manage his lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where he still goes to work everyday.

"You use this system even to text your sons, for example. And I wonder what it would mean to your life today if the system somehow was taken away from you?" Pelley asks.

Scott says he couldn't work with BCI.

Asked what it has meant to their relationship, Scott's wife Lynn tells Pelley, "Well, he's happier. He can communicate with not just us, but with the world. This gave him his independence. His working, intellectual, scientist independence back."

The system was developed by neuroscientist Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw at New York State's Wadsworth Center.

[emmajupiter1]

These neuroscientists continue to use disturbing and outdated practices. Taking the life of an intelligent and emotional being - a monkey - in order to add to the quality of life of another living being is cruel and sickening and unethical to say the least. These animal have no voice. They are used, treated like complete ***, stripped of their quality of life and thrown away after they are used to supposidly make scientific gains. REAL scientists know and acknowledge that the use of animals in tests such as these is unnecessary and unethical. Why not use the tests on the humans that actually need them? Airing these types of programs on your show adds to peoples'' distorted views of using animals in labs for testing. IT IS NOT OKAY. How can any of the participants feel okay with what they are contributing to? This is another case of people sucking the life out of others in order to gain for themselves. Personally, if I was one of these patients, unable to communicate fully, I would rather not continue with my life. Stop making others suffer what cannot be controlled or changed.

[mullikinm]

I am totally amazed at what the neuroscientists have done. I am a nurse and once had a patient whit Locked-In Syndrome. I did some reading on the syndrome, including the book "The Diving Bell and the Buttefly: by Jean-Dominique Bauby. At that time they were just starting to develop the computer system to allow the people with this to communica. I am happy to see the strides they have made. The one question I have is why aren''t the neuroscientists making the salaries football, baseball, basketball players make. I would uch rather be able to say I had developed the computer system that allows people with Locked In Syndrome to communicate than to be able to say I hit the winning home run in the 2008 World Series that no one was interested in enough to watch

[suep1219]

To my son, who was struck down by a traumatic brain injury at the age of 18, right before going to college, the potential this kind of research holds is the chance of rebirth. It holds the possiblity of having his life back and being treated as a person and not as someone who people find to be pathetic and so different and painful to be around he should be avoided. It holds a chance of a future and a return to our society. It creates a chance to contribute to society and reach his full potential and have a family of his own and a job. Too bad the monkey can''t swing with the rest of his kind but his work with science is priceless to people who have had their lives destroyed through no fault off their own.

[patsyb5]

Hell with the caveman, it''s so easy even a monkey can do it! Chris Reeves is jumping up and down as he sees this all unfold; after all, he predicted one day soon technology would be such that a paralyzed man would walk on his own. Kudos and God bless to all involved.

[barryinbuena]

This was an amazing story! Our grandson has Spina Bifida and is unable to walk. The week he was born, my wife told his surgeon that someday they will invent a chip that will allow him to walk. After watching the show tonight, I don''t think that day is as far away as I''d once thought it was. It may start out bigger than a chip but the day is coming. These are exciting times!

This story, seen on a local channel, was at the same time exhilarating and depressing. Exhilarating for all the good that can come of these advances, exhilarating for all the empowerment these advances can give to individual human beings, and exhilarating for what is yet to come for the good of a broader mankind. Depressing for the portents of long range military killing, impersonal warfare, unrepentant thievery, robbery, assault and murder from unassailable assailants. Depressing for the likelihood of bad people acquiring good things for evil ends. Depressing because the human brain, as remarkable as it undoubtedly is, still cannot fathom the concept of unintended consequences. Depressing because we will find a way to screw it up. Oh well, it is what it is. For all those whose lives will be enriched by these developments, may you have them quickly and thoroughly and with the benefits you visualize.

[kmedaugh1]

Dear Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw, I have a son who has brain stem injury. He was in a car accident when he was 16 years old. He is now 24 years old. I would like to know if he would be considered for a BCI device? I would like all the available reasearch on a BCI device

[biglaw999]

I know someone that has been in the hospital for over 5 years. He was in a car accident and will never be able to leave the hospital or to talk again. I feel that science can do more than they have tried. I am glad to see some of the things that were on your show to see science is working on something for people to be able to feel like they belong. By the ability to communicate. Sometime we forget that just because someone can not speak or communicate that they are different. Total not true. Handycap but not different. Thank you!!!

[joe68sg1]

Just think...if we would take the $10,000,000,000/month we spend in Iraq fighting an unjust war and put it into accelerating science like this where we would be now.

Someday, this technology will help us regain our top standing in the world. We can help a lot of people with this.
Think how many jobs can be created by supporting worthwhile things like this.

What a waste...perpetrated by the current republiCON administration that has no interest in helping anyone but corporations and wall st.

Power to the people, not corporations

[geribuehre]

I would like to volunteer my mom for further Braingate research. At the time she was diagnosed with ALS (August ''07) she was in perfect condition. She will be 73 on November 9th and she wants to live, my brothers and I want her to live. Since her diagnosis she has been following the instructions in a book entitled, ERIC IS WINNING. She receives detoxification/chelation treatments twice a week and consumes juiced organic fruits and vegetables. She is doing everything she can possibly do to live. She can still walk (a little) with a walker, and she can still talk (but is getting harder to understand). Recently my brother hired someone to do her juicing for her because her legs and hands have become weaker. What''s not weaker is her attitude. She''s known for her beautiful smile. In spite of her circumstances she still smiles. Everyday is a good day to her. At 120 pounds she''s the strongest person I''ve ever known. Braingate has come about in time for my mom. She will take life on the same terms that Scott and Cathy have. My brothers and I will take her life on those terms as well. We love her very much. We will do anything, anything we are asked to do to help her.
I do not have the buttons on this computer to express my desperation for your help. Dr. Wolpaw,
Dr. Schwartz, Dr. Donoghue, or Dr. Mackler, let me introduce you to my mom, please. Please contact me. please. In the meantime Thank you for what you have done and for what you are continuing to do. Thank you.

[iamkrista1]

I was sickened by this story and the way it glossed over the horrible abuse of these monkeys. The worst part of it all is the great irony that lies in all of this. Do we really believe that these monkeys have brains that are so similar to ours that they can do exactly the same things under these conditions and yet they don''t have the same thoughts and feelings in those same brains that cause us to value our own lives? Nothing truly good comes from true evil. And forcing suffering on innocent animals is nothing if not evil! We must not fall into the trap of believing that the ends justify the means! The means must be just!

[renee_blake]

After seeing your recent segment about the brain and the wonders it can perform in sync with computers, I would like to ask some of the questions that did not get asked in this segment and point out some of the video that was not shown.

Despite my fascination with the brain, and my wish that such a possibility could have been available for my father after he suffered a massive stroke 14 years ago and died this past February, without ever being able to walk again, I also must give voice to the voiceless in the %u2018person%u2019 of the monkey you showed briefly and the many other animals you did not show or credit, who participated in the discovery/creation of this brain-machine.

You never showed a full-on picture of the monkey. Why? Because people watching couldn%u2019t handle the fact that you supported in your piece, the complete denial of this intelligent sentient being%u2019s freedom (including being allowed to move independently) not locked into a piece of equipment? Were you afraid of what viewers might say? Were you afraid they wouldn%u2019t praise you and the scientists and the University of Pittsburgh and %u201C60 Minutes%u201D to the skies, once they realized what the %u201Ccompromises%u201D and sacrifices might be?

[renee_blake]

You never explained what happened to the monkey%u2019s right arm, that he or she was forced to learn to use an appendage that wasn%u2019t his/her own. What was done? Was the arm cut off for the %u201Cgood of science?%u201D

How many animals sacrificed their freedom, their joy of living, their lives for this invention?

If people and their families wish to be screwed into a computer system from their brains as that woman who suffered a stroke, it is their choice and I support that choice wholeheartedly and am glad for them to have some sense of their own independence returned to them.

But the animals have no choice. They are simply used and thrown away like machines. They are intelligent, they have feelings, souls and your segment expressed support for their enslavement, by not showing a more complete story to your viewers. This is unconscionable.

Your failure to include their voices and their sacrifices, is an indication that %u201C60 Minutes%u201D has some growing up to do before it can add ethical journalism to the many things for which it congratulates itself.

[renee_blake]

You never explained what happened to the monkey%u2019s right arm, that he or she was forced to learn to use an appendage that wasn%u2019t his/her own. What was done? Was the arm cut off for the %u201Cgood of science?%u201D

How many animals sacrificed their freedom, their joy of living, their lives for this invention?

If people and their families wish to be screwed into a computer system from their brains as that woman who suffered a stroke, it is their choice and I support that choice wholeheartedly and am glad for them to have some sense of their own independence returned to them.

But the animals have no choice. They are simply used and thrown away like machines. They are intelligent, they have feelings, souls and your segment expressed support for their enslavement, by not showing a more complete story to your viewers. This is unconscionable.

Your failure to include their voices and their sacrifices, is an indication that %u201C60 Minutes%u201D has some growing up to do before it can add ethical journalism to the many things for which it congratulates itself.

[ws44]

To those who are critical of research with animals:
(a) Get your priorities straight.
(b) Control your inflammatory language.
(c) emmajupiter1, please get an education before you make baseless, uninformed accusations about highly ethical and sensitive people doing incredibly difficult work that ultimately benefits ALL living creatures.
(d) Most researchers have the same pets and sensitivities to animals as do most other people - be assured that they would not use animals if there were a better alternative.

[keven13]

I just watched Scott Pelley''s piece on 60 minutes on brain power.
I am Keven Lee Hulings and I have had ALS for 17 years. At present I use a DynaVox communication device which is also a laptop computer, I am using my chin to type this request.
I am interested in contacting Mr. Mackler about "Brain Power", I feel as though I am a perfect candidate for a research guinea-pig.
I''m not sure of your procedures of giving out email addresses so I will give you mine to pass on to Mr. Mackler about my request for clinical studies in the thought control field.
[e-mail]
Thank you for your time!

[keven13]

I just watched Scott Pelley''s piece on 60 minutes on brain power.
I am Keven Lee Hulings and I have had ALS for 17 years. At present I use a DynaVox communication device which is also a laptop computer, I am using my chin to type this request.
I am interested in contacting Mr. Mackler about "Brain Power", I feel as though I am a perfect candidate for a research guinea-pig.
I''m not sure of your procedures of giving out email addresses so I will give you mine to pass on to Mr. Mackler about my request for clinical studies in the thought control field.
[e-mail]
Thank you for your time!

[hutchoo0]

I%u2019ve been talking about this for 20+ years, except my vision had the plug at the brain stem, back of your neck. Of course I liked The Matrix except for the fact that Neo was in a chair laying down as if he was at the dentist. The Brain Computer Interface I envisioned though was for realizing the music that was playing in my head. The Singularity Is Near and this device, though dedicated to neuro-muscular apps, will play a big role at achieving A.I. This path needs a neuroscientist with a big grant to study apps with FMRIs - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagers and other such gear.
Two serendipitous realities in this piece: Cathy Hutchinson (my surname) and comment two about patients with MS. My wife and I are both stricken with MS.

[rosecriv]

Regarding the brainpower segment..have they done trials with teens with cerebral palsy?? I have a very bright 15 year old son who is nonverbal and in a wheelchair. This would be...well, I can''t find the words, but I believe my son would, given the chance.
Please.

Rose Crivolio
[e-mail]

[icwtus]

I happened to catch this report tonight on CBS. This is surely interesting stuff and the technology (if we can keep it from being abused) could be quite useful to amputees or perhaps even our veterans who have lost limbs. I do wonder about the part where the host mentioned the possibility of this being used to read thoughts, and the person being interviewed (one of the doctors) said that wasn''t possible because this can only be done with the consent of the patient. Is that only because the patient would have to put the probes on? What stops someone (i.e. the police) from forcing someone to wear the sensor?

This technology really has the potential to be used to invade privacy at levels never before thought possible. I am glad they have not managed to decipher the brain yet. That means that for now, we are safe from this kind of stuff. They can listen, but they wont understand anything. For now.

[mtmaidj]

7 years ago, I work with ADH children on a similar brain/computer hookup. With just their thoughts, they were able to increase their time of focused attention, impulsivity, distractability. The kids wore helmets with electrodes in them and sat in front of a computer screen - focusing. It was truly amazing how much improvement each 20 minute session yielded.

[juwboy]

renee_blake said:

"Was the [monkey`s] arm cut off for the `good of science?`"

The report says clearly that the monkey`s arms were RESTRAINED.

renee_blake, why didn`t you take the time to read the report dispassionately, without any preconceived ideas, instead of wasting ours with your ignorant opinions?

[gottadownload]

Amazing technology. How long until we get here:

http://www.squidoo.com/NeuralReality

Is this the beginning of the transhuman age?

[truthislife1]

I sure am glad evolution is true and there is no intelligent design with this technology.

[suktnutz]

Thank You 60 Minutes for thi story it shows what modern science can di. I want to thank Scott, Denise and the crew for doing the segment.My Mother Cathy just wants to help people with this disorder.Thank You again and if any one wants to contact Cathy her E-mail is [e-mail] Thank You Mass General Hospital the team at Brown and thank you CBS.....Brian Hutchinson Cathy''s son

[edupalher]

I love 60 minutes ! Thank you for such a good program, I wanted to know if this Harnessing might be able to help people suffering of schinophernia or other mental ilness, or find the defiece in the brain thata is afected. Sinserely Eduardo Palacio

[geribuehre]

I failed to leave my email address (during my 9:31, November 2, 2008 comment) so that I could be contacted as requested: [e-mail]
Thank you.

[walt1944-2009]

Every time I hear a story about human brains being hooked up to computers, I get an uneasy feeling.

I am reminded of those old 1950''s scifi classics, Donovan''s Brain, where a crimnal''s brain is kept alive and takes over the minds of others, and Forbidden Planet, where an alien race wipes itself out by hooking their minds up to a machine that unleashes both their conscious AND unconscious fears, desires, and HATRED!

There are some things that God meant for us not to fool around with and to me, the human mind is one of them. It maybe a blessing to people who are paralzed or otherwise infirm, but I would hate to see Micheal Savage''s or Bill O''Reilly''s brain hooked up to a machine that could turn thought into reality!!!!

Their hatred would leave the planet a burntout cinder!!!

SIG HEIL, NO WORRIES ABOUT ME; MY HEAD IS EMPTY!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, THEY BETTER NOT HOOK ME UP TO ANYTHING LIKE THAT!!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, I FORGOT TO DISCUSS PARISIAN FASHIONS WITH SARKOZY!!!, Palin!!!

[bzallison]

It is great to see this positive publicity for our research field in the mainstream media. I have been a BCI researcher for over 10 years and hope to correct a common misunderstanding.

In the interview, Dr. Jon Wolpaw said that BCIs are not mindreading tools. This is correct. Many people assume that BCIs operate by literally interpreting your thoughts. If you think of an apple, an apple appears on the screen. BCIs do not work that way. Nobody has even developed a BCI that can tell whether you are thinking "yes" or "no." Instead, people produce detectable brain patterns by performing voluntary tasks like imagining movements or noticing certain flashes. The latter approach was the type shown in the 60 Minutes clip with flashing letters. I worked with Theresa Vaughan in Jon''s lab on an earlier version of this system, called a P300 BCI, with other patients and healthy volunteers. It is remarkable how far the field has progressed.

Brendan Allison, PhD
University of Bremen

[allen696]

Im so excited about seeing this program. I work with students who have cerbral palsey,autism,mental retardation,etc. If they could some how be wired to a computer just think of the possibilites they could possess. My student who I work one on one with in a public school use to have a Dino Box, a big machine that she could use by hitting the button for the words for what she had to say, it was a time consuming effort and she didn''t always hit the right word she wanted. With this new BCI I can see her having conversations with people, answering questions in class, and being part of her education experience as an active learner and not a passive one. If any one has any more information about this new technology please send to [e-mail], my students mother would love to more information about this technology and how it would help her child.

[thoughtful8]

Wow. I wonder what it would be like for someone who is not paralized. I mean, could it learn from someone while they are typing to pick up on the brain impulse that is precurser to the actual movement of the fingers so that the typing is performed at the speed of someone to think the letters? Could you have your own personal thinking cap pre-programed to function prior to a debilitating desease? The human mind has a pretty amazing capacity to operate machinery. Wow, I can see hands free driving and things like that as the norm in the future. It''s not mind reading, it''s the mind using the shortcut of faster control of available tools through practice. This is great. I better get me a lifetime membership at the gym right away because their prices will sky rocket as less body movement occurs and more people need to go work off their fat. (WARNING, THE HAT is not recommended for individuals suffering from foot and mouth disease.)

[tazmisha]

This article is very encouraging, I''d like to know how to get my husband involved in a clynical trail. My husband has a TBI, he was involved in a car accident in May of 2007. He communicates with me via his eyes and I believe he would be able to communicate with others via the BCI.

If you have information that will help me further explore this avenue, please contact me at [e-mail]

[usmcvn1]

WALT 1944,
Thanks! Now I can have nightmares about VP Cheney"s brain being hooked up to computer to run the world! OMG!

LOL

[sejoyb]

I wonder why the monkey''s head was not shown. Let the world see what has been done to the monkey.

Society only hides that which is shameful.

If animal-experimentation is good: then we should all be pleased to see it.

[kphx]

(c) emmajupiter1, please get an education before you make baseless, uninformed accusations about highly ethical and sensitive people doing incredibly difficult work that ultimately benefits ALL living creatures.
(d) Most researchers have the same pets and sensitivities to animals as do most other people - be assured that they would not use animals if there were a better alternative.


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Posted by ws44 at 10:33 PM : Nov 02, 2008

Yeah right ... I love my pet dog so much. But he has got this bad disease, I need to test the cures on humans, before I try it on my dog. Any takers ... I can see ws44 volunteering for this.

[receipt5]

Copy cut paste How much does the system cost?
While the hardware components cost about $5000, the Wadsworth BCI home system is not yet available outside the confines of our research studies due to the need for substantial ongoing technical support. Efforts are underway to reduce this need and thereby enable much wider dissemination of the Wadsworth system. Contact The Brain Communication Foundation for further information.
http://www.wadsworth.org/bci/faq.html#8
I don''t think it will be available for Christmas.

[receipt5]

SIMRAD AP5007 SERIES AUTOPILOT, BASIC SYSTEM WITH AP50 CONTROL ...
AP50 Junction Unit The new J50 junction unit is the brain in the AP50 autopilot system. It contains the steering computer, interface circuits to all system .... http://www.wmjmarine.com/sap5007.html $7,499.00
Computer Interface For Snap Circuts
CI-73 Allows SC300 or SC500 sets to interface with a computer! Turns your computer into an oscilloscope or spectrum analyzer so you can "see" electronics. .... http://brainstationtoys.com/product/computer-interface-for-snap-circuts-by-elenco $19.95
Snap Circuits Extreme 750-in-1 with Computer Interface
Dr Toy 100 Best Children''s Products Winner. Edison would be Ecstatic! Over 750 Fascinating Electronic Projects! Includes special software for seeing the .... http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/elenco_electronics_inc/snap_circuits_extreme_750_in_1_with_computer_interface.cfm? $110.95
Zenses : Ocean Edition - Nintendo DS
... yet addictive puzzle/brain games that are as fun as they are challenging A ... fresh and spa-like Interface highlights the earth''s natural wonders and .... http://www.jr.com $29.95

BRAINBOXES UC-235-001 UC235001 UNIVERSAL 1PORT RS232 CARD LOW ...
http://www.fadfusion.com/selection.php?product_item_number=10084401528 $47.99 (Discontinued)
RS232

[search4truth-2009]

Gee, maybe in a "feedback" loop we could get rid of "liberal thought processes" and unite the country.

Imagine people NOT murdering innocents, but executing MURDERERS. Imagine people NOT taking money from the people that EARNED it to GIVE it to people that won''t work for it.

Imagine people NOT calling our president "Hitler" because he defends our country and is not well liked by our country''s enemies.

Imagine people NOT turning brain research into political statements.

Just imagine...

[juwboy]

sejoyb said:

"I wonder why the monkey`s head was not shown."

Sigmund Freud asked, "What do women want?"

The answer should have been self-evident and sejoyb is a typical example.

Women want to spend their lives creating problems where none exist.

[forali]

Please, if you can help me to find a way to get my daughter involved in one of these studies, please e-mail me at [e-mail]. She would be an excellent candidate.

[ws44]

"Yeah right ... I love my pet dog so much. But he has got this bad disease, I need to test the cures on humans, before I try it on my dog. Any takers ... I can see ws44 volunteering for this."

Posted by kphx at 04:36 PM : Nov 03, 2008, as a lame response to my points (c) & (d) as posted at 10:33 PM : Nov 02, 2008.

kphx, please note point (a).

"To those who are critical of research with animals:
(a) Get your priorities straight."

[sljones08]

Please see this eleemntary teacher story, from NC. Mr. Joe Bozovich. Hopefuly time will let him participate. He too has ALS. His story can be down loaded on You Tube -WFMY News 2 Teacher has ALS.

Please this is his last chance. They may send him to hospice but he is stil trying to communicate. He wants to fight this. See his story.

Sylvia Jones
336-375-0940

[sljones08]

See teacher''s story You Tube Teacher has ALS WFMY News 2

[Tim Brewer4]

Thank you for reading my invisible thoughts, with those of your own.

That was a very good story you did on things like BrainGate, but you missed the best follow through to all of it.

Just search the Internet for this topic, and get the best of this story.

"The Department of Positive Out of Body Possibilities"

[rosecriv]

I was wondering if there are any Universities such as Duke maybe doing research studies?? Are there any clinical trials being done? I have a 15 year old son with cerebral palsy, he is nonverbal and is very bright!!!!! We would appreciate any help you can offer. PLEASE PLEASE HELP.

Rose Crivolio
[e-mail]