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For four years, Hans_peter Balzmann, a lawyer suffering from Lau Gehrig’s disease, was locked within his own body. Paralyzed by the disease and unable to eat, speak, or even breathe on his own, he had relied on a respirator and feeding tube to survive. Although his mind functioned normally, he was unable to communicate with the outside world.

All that changed, however, after Balzmann obtained an experimental device that allows brain waves to be translated into written communication. Using EEG scanning techniques that react to the pattern of brain waves originating in the brain, Balzmann learned to boost and curtaill certain types of brain waves. After hundreds of hours of practise, he was able to select letters that appear on a video screen. By stringing letters together, he could spell out messages, the process, which makes use of brain waves called “slow cortical potentials”, permitted Balzmann to communicate effectively for the first time in years. Although the method is slow and tedious – Balzmann can produce only about two characters per minute- it holds great promise (Birbaumer et al, 1999)

Other increasingly sophisticated procedures may permit faster communication with brain waves in the future. For example, neurosurgeon Philip Kennedy of Emory University is experimenting with a procedure in which he implants eletrodes into a paralyzed patient’s motor cortex. When the patient thinks about moving her hands, tongues, or eyes, the brain producees electrical signals that are amplified by the implant and translated into the movement of a cursor. Using this system, the patient can spell out words and hit icons (such as “Im cold”) on the computer screen (“Mind over Matter” 1999).

Technological advances offer the possibility of treating other brain disorders. For example, an experimental system is being tested to treat seizures due to epilepsy. The system consists of a pacemaker – like device, implanted into the chest, that sends singals to the brain to block seizures. When patients feel that a seizure is about to occur, they can active the system, shortcircuiting the seizure (Forest, 1997).

Ultimately, systems such as there might be useful not just for people with illnesses and disabilities, but for anyone. For instance, it is conceivable that one day you will be able to control your computer’s cursor by simply thinking about moving it. Mind – over – cursor could be in every one’s future

Can you think a mechanism that would permit brain-wave communications between two people? What implications would there be if people gained the ability to communications with each other in this way.

source: essentials of understanding psychology by robert s. feldman