TY - JOUR T1 - Brain-computer communication: unlocking the locked in. JF - Psychological bulletin Y1 - 2001 A1 - Kübler, A. A1 - Kotchoubey, B. A1 - Kaiser, J. A1 - Jonathan Wolpaw A1 - Niels Birbaumer KW - User-Computer Interface AB - With the increasing efficiency of life-support systems and better intensive care, more patients survive severe injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Many of these patients experience locked-in syndrome: The active mind is locked in a paralyzed body. Consequently, communication is extremely restricted or impossible. A muscle-independent communication channel overcomes this problem and is realized through a brain-computer interface, a direct connection between brain and computer. The number of technically elaborated brain-computer interfaces is in contrast with the number of systems used in the daily life of locked-in patients. It is hypothesized that a profound knowledge and consideration of psychological principles are necessary to make brain-computer interfaces feasible for locked-in patients. VL - 127 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11393301 ER -