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| Completely 'locked-in' patients can communicate | Completely 'locked-in' patients can communicate |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Patients with absolutely no control over their body have finally been able to communicate, say scientists. | Patients with absolutely no control over their body have finally been able to communicate, say scientists. |
| A brain-computer interface was used to read the thoughts of patients to answer basic yes-or-no questions. | A brain-computer interface was used to read the thoughts of patients to answer basic yes-or-no questions. |
| One man was able to repeatedly refuse permission for his daughter to get married. | One man was able to repeatedly refuse permission for his daughter to get married. |
| The study on four patients in Germany- published in PLOS Biology - also showed they were happy despite the effects of being "locked-in". | |
| The patients all had advanced forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in which the brain loses the ability to control muscles. | The patients all had advanced forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in which the brain loses the ability to control muscles. |
| It eventually traps people in their own body - they are able to think, but incapable of moving or talking. | It eventually traps people in their own body - they are able to think, but incapable of moving or talking. |
| When they become "locked in", it can still be possible to develop ways of communication using eye movements. | When they become "locked in", it can still be possible to develop ways of communication using eye movements. |
| But all the patients in the study were "completely locked in" and could not even move their eyes. | |
| Trapped inside your own body: A doctor’s account | |
| Brain signals | Brain signals |
| The activity of brain cells can change oxygen levels in the blood, which in turn changes the colour of the blood. | The activity of brain cells can change oxygen levels in the blood, which in turn changes the colour of the blood. |
| And scientists were able to peer inside the brain using light to detect the blood's colour, through a technique called near-infrared spectroscopy. | And scientists were able to peer inside the brain using light to detect the blood's colour, through a technique called near-infrared spectroscopy. |
| They then asked the patients yes-or-no questions such as: "Your husband's name is Joachim?" to train a computer to interpret the brain signals. | They then asked the patients yes-or-no questions such as: "Your husband's name is Joachim?" to train a computer to interpret the brain signals. |
| The system achieved an accuracy of about 75%. | The system achieved an accuracy of about 75%. |
| It means questions need to be asked repeatedly in order to be certain of a patient's answer. | It means questions need to be asked repeatedly in order to be certain of a patient's answer. |
| Prof Ujwal Chaudhary, from the Wyss Center in Switzerland where the work was pioneered, told BBC News: "It makes a great difference to their quality of life. | |
| "Imagine if you had no means of communicating and then you could say yes or no - it makes a huge impact." | "Imagine if you had no means of communicating and then you could say yes or no - it makes a huge impact." |
| Insight | |
| Patients who have recovered from locked-in syndrome say being able to communicate makes a huge difference. | |
| Kate Allatt, became locked in for five months when she had a stroke at the age of 39. | |
| Unlike the patients in this study, she became able to communicate when her friends asked her to blink once or yes or twice for no. | |
| She told the BBC: "It was phenomenal, that moment if you could wrap every single Christmas, every single birthday, every single child you've ever held in your arms for the first time - that was how exciting it was." | |
| In one case a daughter wanted the blessing of her completely locked-in father before marrying her boyfriend. | In one case a daughter wanted the blessing of her completely locked-in father before marrying her boyfriend. |
| But eight times out of 10 the answer came back no. | But eight times out of 10 the answer came back no. |
| "We don't know why he said no," said Prof Chaudhary. | "We don't know why he said no," said Prof Chaudhary. |
| "But they got married… nothing can come between love." | "But they got married… nothing can come between love." |
| The form of communication is being used for more practical day-to-day means such as finding out if patients are in pain or want a family visit. | The form of communication is being used for more practical day-to-day means such as finding out if patients are in pain or want a family visit. |
| Prof John Donoghue, the director of the Wyss Center, told the BBC: "If a person who is totally locked-in is able to communicate, you're freeing the mind to interact with the world around them. | Prof John Donoghue, the director of the Wyss Center, told the BBC: "If a person who is totally locked-in is able to communicate, you're freeing the mind to interact with the world around them. |
| "That is remarkable." | "That is remarkable." |
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