The device is designed as a headband that wraps around the head, enabling patients with severe paralysis and complete loss of motor functions, including those unable to blink, to communicate.
The headband functions by measuring a physiological signal that the patient can still control—specifically, the blood flow to the brain.
In experiments, this device has allowed patients to indicate “yes” or “no” in response to questions with an accuracy of 80%.
The name of the device, Kokorogatari, translates to “talking with the brain” in Vietnamese. It is manufactured by Hitachi Electronics. Kokorogatari is specifically designed to assist individuals with damaged motor neurons.
This condition ultimately affects all voluntary muscles, rendering the patient immobile and even unable to blink.
If the patient wishes to respond “yes” to a question, they can control the blood flow to the front part of the brain.
To achieve this, patients may perform mental calculations or try to recall the lyrics of a song.
Conversely, to indicate “no,” they simply relax and allow their thoughts to remain neutral, resulting in unchanged blood flow.
The headband can measure the blood flow to the brain and translate it into an answer within half a minute.
