Abstract：
The durability of communication with the use of brain-computer interfaces in persons with progressive neurodegenerative disease has not been extensively examined. We report on 7 years of independent at-home use of an implanted brain-computer interface for communication by a person with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the inception of which was reported in 2016. The frequency of at-home use increased over time to compensate for gradual loss of control of an eye-gaze-tracking device, followed by a progressive decrease in use starting 6 years after implantation. At-home use ended when control of the brain-computer interface became unreliable. No signs of technical malfunction were found. Instead, the amplitude of neural signals declined, and computed tomographic imaging revealed progressive atrophy, which suggested that ALS-related neurodegeneration ultimately rendered the brain-computer interface ineffective after years of successful use, although alternative explanations are plausible. (Funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02224469.).
摘要：
尚未广泛研究患有进行性神经退行性疾病的人使用脑-计算机接口进行通信的耐久性。我们报告了7年的独立在家使用植入的脑机接口进行通信的人患有晚期肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS），其成立于2016年。在家中使用的频率随着时间的推移而增加，以补偿逐渐失去对眼睛注视跟踪设备的控制，植入后6年开始逐渐减少使用。当脑机接口的控制变得不可靠时，家庭使用就结束了。没有发现技术故障的迹象。相反，神经信号的振幅下降，计算机断层扫描显示进行性萎缩，这表明与ALS相关的神经变性在成功使用多年后最终导致脑机接口失效，尽管其他解释似乎是合理的。（由国家耳聋和其他沟通障碍研究所等资助；ClinicalTrials.gov编号，NCT02224469。).
