www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/medicine/article7014246.ece
These volunteers were asked to imagine playing tennis if the answer to a question was ?yes?, and to imagine moving through their house to say no. Answers were 100 per cent accurate.
The technique was then used to attempt to communicate with the Belgian man. He was asked six questions while his brain was scanned using fMRI. He answered the first five successfully, while no answer was obtained to the sixth. This could have been because the patient fell asleep or lost consciousness, Dr Owen said.
"We were astonished when we saw the results of the patient?s scan and that he was able to correctly answer the questions that were asked by simply changing his thoughts,? Dr Owen said.
Dr Laureys said: ?So far these scans have proven to be the only viable method for this patient to communicate in any way since his accident. It?s early days, but in the future we hope to develop this technique to allow some patients to express their feelings and thoughts, control their environment and increase their quality of life.?
This is just amazing!