Abstract
Thousands of youth suffering from acquired brain injury or other early-life neurological disease live, mature, and learn with only limited communication and interaction with their world. Such cognitively capable children are ideal candidates for brain-computer interfaces (BCI). While BCI systems are rapidly evolving, a fundamental gap exists between technological innovators and the patients and families who stand to benefit. Forays into translating BCI systems to children in recent years have revealed that kids can learn to operate simple BCI with proficiency akin to adults. BCI could bring significant boons to the lives of many children with severe physical impairment, supporting their complex physical and social needs. However, children have been neglected in BCI research and a collaborative BCI research community is required to unite and push pediatric BCI development forward. To this end, the pediatric BCI Canada collaborative network (BCI-CAN) was formed, under a unified goal to cooperatively drive forward pediatric BCI innovation and impact. This article reflects on the topics and discussions raised in the foundational BCI-CAN meeting held in Toronto, ON, Canada in November 2019 and suggests the next steps required to see BCI impact the lives of children with severe neurological disease and their families.
Highlights
Pediatric brain-computer interface (BCI) is a rapidly developing subfield of BCI research, with its unique challenges, barriers, and advantages (Mikoajewska and Mikoajewski, 2014; Alves et al, 2016; Chau and Fairley, 2016; Kinney-Lang et al, 2016; Norton et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2019)
The majority of our early work focused on the hemodynamic modalities (NIRS and transcranial Doppler ultrasound (tCD)), where we demonstrated viable brain-based control using a variety of different communication interfaces with a broad range of mental tasks and self-regulation approaches, with both young adults and children
Summary of Inaugural BCI Canada collaborative network (BCI-CAN) Meeting dearth of pediatric BCI research, evoked activity in the developing brains of children has yet to be well characterized for BCI
Summary
Pediatric brain-computer interface (BCI) is a rapidly developing subfield of BCI research, with its unique challenges, barriers, and advantages (Mikoajewska and Mikoajewski, 2014; Alves et al, 2016; Chau and Fairley, 2016; Kinney-Lang et al, 2016; Norton et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2019). Building up cooperation between researchers, clinicians and stakeholders will be critical in the coming years to raise pediatric BCI to its full potential. To this end, the initial BCI-CAN meeting brought together a bulk of the world’s leading experts in pediatric BCI alongside associated stakeholders, including families, advocates, and hospital foundation representatives, to the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital on November 15, 2019. Paired with presentations were opportunities for both large group discussions and smaller group break-out sessions. This collaboration marks the first-of-its-kind for pediatric BCI research, engaging stakeholders across the spectrum to combine resources and spur innovation streams. The remainder of this article aims to summarize the topics discussed at the BCI-CAN meeting and directions for progress
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