- Locked-in syndrome is a neurological disorder where a person cannot speak or show facial expressions.
- Most people with this condition must rely only on eye blinking and movement to communicate with others.
- Researchers from the University of California San Francisco have developed a new way for people with locked-in syndrome to both communicate and show facial expressions through the use of a brain implant and digital avatar.
Locked-in syndrome is a
Although a person with locked-in syndrome can fully understand what someone is saying or reading to them, they are unable to talk or show emotion through their face, such as happiness, anger, or sadness.
Many times, a person with locked-in syndrome depends on small movements, such as blinking, to communicate with others.
Now, researchers from the University of California San Francisco have developed a new way for people with locked-in syndrome to both communicate and show facial expressions through the use of a brain implant and
This study was recently published in the journal
Locked-in syndrome is relatively rare — fewer than 1,000 people in the United States have the condition.
The condition is usually caused by damage to a part of the
The damage to the brainstem typically occurs during a stroke, but it can also happen due to nerve inflammation, tumors, infections, or other conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
When a person has locked-in syndrome, they lose the ability to move their voluntary muscles at will. However, they do not lose any cognitive ability, so they are able to think normally and understand when a person speaks or reads to them. And their hearing is not affected.
However, locked-in syndrome may impact a person’s ability to breathe and eat by affecting chewing and
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