United Spinal Association Hosts 52nd APS Annual Conference; New Study Examines Breakthroughs in Brain-Computer Interfaces
United Spinal Association will be hosting the 52nd Annual Conference of the American Paraplegia Society (APS) September 5—7, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference highlights recent achievements in treating spinal cord injury and disorders (SCI/D), advances in research, and it acknowledges medical professionals who have devoted their careers to this field. The conference, the largest gathering of SCI/D professionals in North America, combines nationally-known speakers, paper presentations, committee meetings, group networking, and educational displays to create a stimulating learning environment.
Among many innovative research studies that will be presented is Brain-Computer Interfaces for Restoration of Communication and Movement. Keynote speaker Jonathan R. Wolpaw, MD, of the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health in Albany, will discuss brain-computer interface (BCI) research that seeks to develop new augmentative communication and control technology that does not depend on muscle control for people with severe neuromuscular disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, and spinal cord injury. The immediate goal is to give these users, who may be totally paralyzed, or “locked in,” basic communication capabilities so that they can express their desires to caregivers or even operate word processing programs or neuroprostheses.
Current BCIs determine the intent of the user from signals recorded non-invasively from the scalp (EEG), invasively from the cortical surface (ECoG), or from within the brain (neuronal action potentials or local field potentials). BCI research and development is an inherently interdisciplinary problem, involving neurobiology, psychology, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and clinical rehabilitation. Its future progress and eventual practical impact depend on a number of critical issues such as the relative advantages and disadvantages of non-invasive and invasive methods; the optimal signal processing techniques; the appropriate user groups and applications; factors affecting user acceptance; and minimization of the need for ongoing technical support. With proper recognition and effective engagement of these issues, BCI systems could eventually be important new communication and control options for people with motor disabilities
For 52 years, APS has been representing physicians and researchers in the field of spinal cord impairment from the United States and Canada. APS convenes to report state-of-the-art techniques, disseminate information about scientific and technological advancements, and discuss developments in research. For more information, visit www.apssci.org.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, United Spinal Association is a national membership organization serving people with spinal cord injuries or disorders. The organization helped build the Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale University in 1988 and has contributed millions of dollars over the years to finding a cure for SCI/D and multiple sclerosis. The Association also provides significant annual funding to the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY (named after the Association’s late executive director). And for our veterans, United Spinal’s lobbying efforts helped get legislation passed in record time that will provide traumatic injury insurance for our soldiers returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Membership in the Association is free and open to all people with SCI/D.
