A study published in the latest issue of "Progress in Science" shows that Johns Hopkins University in the United States has developed a brain computer interface (BCI) for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (ALS), which can maintain an accuracy of 90% within 3 months without the need for retraining or recalibration of the algorithm. ALS is a progressive neurological disease that can lead to muscle weakness and loss of motor and language function. Tim Evans, 62 years old, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014 and had severe speech and swallowing problems. He can speak slowly, but most people find it difficult to understand him. In the summer of 2022, researchers placed two cortical electroencephalogram (ECoG) grids on the surface of Evans' brain. The ECoG grid is a thin electrode (micro sensor) with a coverage area equivalent to the size of a stamp, which can record the electrical signals generated by thousands of brain cells (neurons) when placed on the brain. BCI, along with specially trained computer algorithms, converts brain signals into computer commands, allowing Evans to freely navigate between options on the communication board using a set of six basic commands (up, down, left, right, enter, and return) and control intelligent devices such as room lights and streaming TV applications. Throughout the testing process, researchers found that using signals from the motor and sensory regions of the brain produces the best results. The brain regions related to lip, tongue, and jaw movements have the greatest impact on the performance of BCI, and this effect remained consistent throughout the 3-month study. Unlike many other BCI studies, the new method uses electrodes that do not penetrate the brain, and the research team can record a large number of neurons from the surface of the brain, rather than individual neurons. Research has shown that over time, patients' reactions are very stable and there is no need to retrain the BCI algorithm. In the near future, patients with Alzheimer's disease can start a new day by simply using brain signals to turn on lights and broadcast TV news. (New News Agency)