Harnessing The Power Of The Brain

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

(CBS)  This story was first published on Nov. 2, 2008. It was updated on Aug. 6, 2009.

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 first reported last November, 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."

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.

[mpatnode]

just wow. wish my son could use this stuff.

[deryll933]

My son, Deryll age 23was in a car accident and ejected in 2007 . He had a broken neck and a bruised spinal cord. Incomplete Quad C5-C6. He is a computer tech and still types with the side of his right hand although he can't feel his fingers. He's "AMAZING" but his wish is to regain use of his hands. He said that he can deal with never walking again but really needs the use of his hands. He would be a great canidate for this.

[deryll933]

My son, Deryll age 23was in a car accident and ejected in 2007 . He had a broken neck and a bruised spinal cord. Incomplete Quad C5-C6. He is a computer tech and still types with the side of his right hand although he can't feel his fingers. He's "AMAZING" but his wish is to regain use of his hands. He said that he can deal with never walking again but really needs the use of his hands. He would be a great canidate for this.

Debra Ferguson
[e-mail]

[banchigirl]

what is the name of the company that makes this item. [e-mail]

[caddiehqPCAhqcom]

TO: ALL who ALS has touched is some way -- Keep up the good work!!
May this song played at Bruce Edwards Farewell( Tom Watson's logtime caddie-friend who passed away from ASL ) be some words of comfort and Thanks form those suffering from ALS. KEEP THE FAITH
World Caddie HQ-PCA
Dennis Cone
Founder/CEO
GIFT FOR YOU AND YOUR HEART :)
Hear Gary Chapman's version ( Key of B ) of "FIVE FEET AWAY" that was played at Bruce Edwards
( Tom Watson's Caddie) funeral Play the song here http://www.pcaworldwide.com/13azf.htm
Peace and Love to ALL
www.PCAFhq.org

[SabrinahZ]

Normally, I enjoy watching 60 Minutes but tonight was enraged and sickened by "Brain Power". What started as an intriguing premise quickly changed as soon as the phrase "suppose the sensors were inside the head" was uttered. I would love to do to the unethical researchers exactly what they did to the animals. How dare they not only flaunt their immorality but boast how they could cut off a limb and make the monkey move it for them? CBS was complicit in this laboratory of horrors at the University of Pittsburgh by shooting the scene with the monkey so that the huge plug in his head and the connection of the arm to the machine was blocked from our view. Did you think no one would notice?

[daligisoftware]

My mother had a stroke last year, which prompted me to create a very simple, straightforward computer program for her to use for communication. It is completely mouse-driven.

After seeing the above story, I couldn't help but wonder if it would be useful (or would work) with either patient's electrode devices. If either patient wants to give it a try, please send an email to [e-mail].

Though I normally charge a nominal fee for the software, I would gladly give either patient a copy at no charge in exchange for seeing how (or if) it would work with their specific technology. If they would like to see what it looks like and how it works first before deciding, they can get more info at:
www.daligisoftware.com

[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]

[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"

[sljones08]

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

[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

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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...

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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