Prospects and Problems of Brain Computer Interface in Healthcare

Abstract

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) otherwise known as a Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) is an emergent technology whose goal is to create a real-time and direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices such as computers, robots, artificial limbs and wheelchairs. In BCI, cerebral or brain activities control these devices by transmitting and receiving signals from the brain. BCI is applied in healthcare to improve the communication capabilities of people living with disabilities or locked in syndrome such as traumatic brain disorders, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, brain stem stroke and other severe motor disabilities. BCI also increases the independence of disabled individuals by improving their muscle control. Consequently, BCI improves the quality of life of disabled persons by allowing this group of people to live a normal and comfortable life. In spite of the benefits of BCI, the technology is not widely deployed in healthcare. This is because of the numerous challenges associated with it. One of the basic limitations of BCI is that the signals received from the brain are prone to interference. Furthermore, legal and ethical concerns such as the risk of infection or hemorrhage, psychological harm caused when a patient’s intention to control an external device fails as well as privacy and confidentiality of patients’ data are some of the challenges faced by BCI in healthcare. Nevertheless, significant attention has not been paid to the challenges that hinder the implementation of BCI in healthcare. Aims: Consequently, this paper examines the general overview and components of BCI. The applications and challenges of BCI in healthcare are also appraised in this study. Methodology: Relevant literatures relating to the subject matter were reviewed. The literatures were sought in three scientific electronic databases namely CiteseerX, Science Direct and Google scholar. Furthermore, the Google search engine was used to search for documents and WebPages that contained relevant references for the study. The literatures reviewed were between 1974 and 2018. Results: The study showed that BCI assists people living with disability to acquire relevant skills and knowledge, diagnose and manage depression, communicate, move and interact socially. The study also revealed that standardization, usability and legal issues are some of the challenges that affect the social acceptability of BCIs in healthcare. Conclusion: The study suggests that there must be a policy that will protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients’ data obtained from BCI. The study also recommends that the comfort and safety of patients must be considered during the operation of a BCI technology. Furthermore, the study suggests that the generation of personal identification number (PIN) can make BCI applications used in healthcare less prone to fraud.