BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility
IntroductionChildren and young people (CYP) with severe physical disabilities often experience barriers to independent mobility, placing them at risk for developmental impairments and restricting their independence and participation. Pilot work suggests that brain-computer interface (BCIs) could ena...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1456692/full |
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| author | Leah Hammond Danette Rowley Corinne Tuck Erica Danielle Floreani Amy Wieler Vella Shin-Hyung Kim Hosein Bahari John Andersen John Andersen Adam Kirton Adam Kirton Eli Kinney-Lang Eli Kinney-Lang |
| author_facet | Leah Hammond Danette Rowley Corinne Tuck Erica Danielle Floreani Amy Wieler Vella Shin-Hyung Kim Hosein Bahari John Andersen John Andersen Adam Kirton Adam Kirton Eli Kinney-Lang Eli Kinney-Lang |
| author_sort | Leah Hammond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionChildren and young people (CYP) with severe physical disabilities often experience barriers to independent mobility, placing them at risk for developmental impairments and restricting their independence and participation. Pilot work suggests that brain-computer interface (BCIs) could enable powered mobility control for children with motor disabilities. We explored how severely disabled CYP could use BCI to achieve individualized, functional power mobility goals and acquire power mobility skills. We also explored the practicality of pediatric BCI-enabled power mobility.MethodsNine CYP aged 7-17 years with severe physical disabilities and their caregivers participated in up to 12 BCI-enabled power mobility training sessions focused on a personalized power mobility goal. Goal achievement was assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). The Assessment for Learning Powered Mobility (ALP) was used to measure session-by-session power mobility skill acquisition. BCI set-up and calibration metrics, perceived workload, and participant engagement were also reported.ResultsSignificant improvements in COPM performance (Z = −2.869, adjusted p = 0.012) and satisfaction scores (Z = −2.809, adjusted p = 0.015) and GAS T scores (Z = −2.805, p = 0.005) were observed following the intervention. ALP scores displayed a small but significant increase over time (R2 = 0.07–0.19; adjusted p = <0.001–0.039), with 7/9 participants achieving increased overall ALP scores following the intervention. Setup and calibration times were practical although calibration consistency was highly variable. Participants reported moderate workload with no significant change over time (R2 = 0.00–0.13; adjusted p = 0.006–1.000), although there was a trend towards increased frustration over time(R2 = 0.13; adjusted p = 0.006).DiscussionParticipants were highly engaged throughout the intervention. BCI-enabled power mobility appears to help CYP with severe physical disabilities achieve personalized power mobility goals and acquire power mobility skills. BCI-enabled power mobility training also appears to be practical, but BCI performance optimization and skill acquisition may be needed to translate this technology into clinical use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53f6288f208d4d6183b6acb51a3a8eaa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-53f6288f208d4d6183b6acb51a3a8eaa2025-08-20T03:05:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-04-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.14566921456692BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobilityLeah Hammond0Danette Rowley1Corinne Tuck2Erica Danielle Floreani3Amy Wieler4Vella Shin-Hyung Kim5Hosein Bahari6John Andersen7John Andersen8Adam Kirton9Adam Kirton10Eli Kinney-Lang11Eli Kinney-Lang12Brain-Computer Interface Program, Imagination Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaBrain-Computer Interface Program, Imagination Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaBrain-Computer Interface Program, Imagination Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaBrain-Computer Interface Program, Imagination Centre, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaBCI4Kids, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaIntroductionChildren and young people (CYP) with severe physical disabilities often experience barriers to independent mobility, placing them at risk for developmental impairments and restricting their independence and participation. Pilot work suggests that brain-computer interface (BCIs) could enable powered mobility control for children with motor disabilities. We explored how severely disabled CYP could use BCI to achieve individualized, functional power mobility goals and acquire power mobility skills. We also explored the practicality of pediatric BCI-enabled power mobility.MethodsNine CYP aged 7-17 years with severe physical disabilities and their caregivers participated in up to 12 BCI-enabled power mobility training sessions focused on a personalized power mobility goal. Goal achievement was assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). The Assessment for Learning Powered Mobility (ALP) was used to measure session-by-session power mobility skill acquisition. BCI set-up and calibration metrics, perceived workload, and participant engagement were also reported.ResultsSignificant improvements in COPM performance (Z = −2.869, adjusted p = 0.012) and satisfaction scores (Z = −2.809, adjusted p = 0.015) and GAS T scores (Z = −2.805, p = 0.005) were observed following the intervention. ALP scores displayed a small but significant increase over time (R2 = 0.07–0.19; adjusted p = <0.001–0.039), with 7/9 participants achieving increased overall ALP scores following the intervention. Setup and calibration times were practical although calibration consistency was highly variable. Participants reported moderate workload with no significant change over time (R2 = 0.00–0.13; adjusted p = 0.006–1.000), although there was a trend towards increased frustration over time(R2 = 0.13; adjusted p = 0.006).DiscussionParticipants were highly engaged throughout the intervention. BCI-enabled power mobility appears to help CYP with severe physical disabilities achieve personalized power mobility goals and acquire power mobility skills. BCI-enabled power mobility training also appears to be practical, but BCI performance optimization and skill acquisition may be needed to translate this technology into clinical use.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1456692/fullbrain-computer interfacepediatricspower mobilitycerebral palsyalternative access technologybrain-machine interface |
| spellingShingle | Leah Hammond Danette Rowley Corinne Tuck Erica Danielle Floreani Amy Wieler Vella Shin-Hyung Kim Hosein Bahari John Andersen John Andersen Adam Kirton Adam Kirton Eli Kinney-Lang Eli Kinney-Lang BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility Frontiers in Human Neuroscience brain-computer interface pediatrics power mobility cerebral palsy alternative access technology brain-machine interface |
| title | BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility |
| title_full | BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility |
| title_fullStr | BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility |
| title_full_unstemmed | BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility |
| title_short | BCI move: exploring pediatric BCI-controlled power mobility |
| title_sort | bci move exploring pediatric bci controlled power mobility |
| topic | brain-computer interface pediatrics power mobility cerebral palsy alternative access technology brain-machine interface |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1456692/full |
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