The CortiCom system consists of 510(k)-cleared components: platinum PMT subdural cortical electrode grids, a Blackrock Microsystems patient pedestal, and an external NeuroPort Neural Signal Processor. Up to two grids will be implanted in the brain, for a total channel count of up to 128 channels, for six months. In each participant, the grid(s) will be implanted over areas of cortex that encode speech and upper extremity movement.

Brief Title

Investigation on the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) System

Official Title

Investigation on the Cortical Communication (CortiCom) System

Brief Summary

The CortiCom system consists of 510(k)-cleared components: platinum PMT subdural cortical <br /> electrode grids, a Blackrock Microsystems patient pedestal, and an external NeuroPort Neural <br /> Signal Processor. Up to two grids will be implanted in the brain, for a total channel count <br /> of up to 128 channels, for six months. In each participant, the grid(s) will be implanted <br /> over areas of cortex that encode speech and upper extremity movement.

Detailed Description

The successful adoption of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) as assistive technologies (ATs)
for disabled populations depends on the ability to elicit rapid, intuitive, and reliable
control signals. To date, it is not known which sources of neural information provide the
most natural and efficient means of control. This study will directly assess the efficacy of
two sources of neural control signals, speech and motor cortex, for BCI control of software
and devices using investigators' Cortical Communication (CortiCom) system.

The CortiCom system consists of 510(k)-cleared components: platinum PMT subdural cortical
electrode grids, a Blackrock Microsystems patient pedestal, and an external NeuroPort Neural
Signal Processor. Up to two grids will be implanted in the brain, for a total channel count
of up to 128 channels, for six months. In each participant, the grid(s) will be implanted
over areas of cortex that encode speech and upper extremity movement.

Investigators' study will be the first to investigate the efficiency and intuitiveness of two
contrasting neural control strategies for BCI: Motor imagery and speech. As the first study
to chronically and simultaneously record from human speech and motor regions, this study
seeks to achieve the following:

- demonstrate the ability to decode intended upper extremity movements using information
decoded from primary motor cortex arm/hand area;

- demonstrate the ability to decode intended speech from articulatory speech cortex; and

- determine the most effective and intuitive user strategies (e.g. imagined speech or
imagined movement) and optimal neural sources for brain-computer interactions,

The patient populations targeted in this study are amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
brainstem stroke, locked-in syndrome (LIS), and tetraplegia. Individuals within these
populations may have normal cortical function and cognition while suffering from motor or
combined speech and motor deficits.

Based on research by colleagues, as well as investigators' own experience working with
participants affected by epilepsy implanted with high density electrocorticographic grids,
investigators hypothesize that long-term recording of neural activity from the targeted
cortical areas may provide a new communication channel for these clinical populations. The
utilization of high-channel-count (up to 128 channel) ECoG grids, in combination with
simultaneous coverage of speech and motor cortex, will enable investigations into the
performance of speech-mediated and motor-mediated control efficacy as applied to a variety of
end effectors, such as computers, tablets, headsets for virtual or augmented reality, smart
lights, televisions, and assistive technologies. Additionally, eye-tracking may be utilized
in combination with neural commands to improve target selection performance and ease.

Through this study, investigators will assess the performance of speech- and motor-mediated
control using chronic, high-channel count ECoG grid neural implants in pursuit of a
high-performing, clinically beneficial BCI assistive technology.

Outcome Measures

Outcome measures are the tests that investigators perform to prove whether or not a treatment being tested in a clinical trial is having any effect.