Sensors for brain-computer interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) hold the promise to restore mobility and independence to persons with paralysis. In spinal cord injury, brainstem stroke, and a host of neuromuscular disorders, the intact brain is "disconnected" from its intact target (such as a limb or the facial musculature), preventing mobility and - in locked-in syndrome and severe amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - precluding even meaningful verbal communication. If it becomes possible to discern the movement intention of someone with paralysis - reliably, safely, and in real time - it would then be possible to provide not only a robust new method of communication but eventually the ability to gain control over a prosthetic limb or, by connecting to additional technologies, one\´s own limbs. In this review, we survey several methods for revealing neural activity in the human brain and their potential for re-enabling mobility in persons with severe paralysis