# BAsIC - Brain-computer-interface practical Application in the Intensive Care unit: a pilot study

> **NIH NIH R03** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $81,000

## Abstract

Patients increasingly survive critical care, but for many the experience is psychologically tormenting in part
because they lose all control over their environment. Patients with neurological injury in particular suffer from
this major loss of autonomy which impacts their long term recovery. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology
transforms physiological changes associated with patient thoughts into actionable outputs. The technology is
rapidly advancing and well established outside of the critical care setting. The goal of this project is to determine
whether conscious and unconscious appearing ICU patients are able to communicate their basic needs, such
as pain, hunger, and thirst, to health care providers using the BCI technology. We will apply a bedside BCI
system in the ICU using a machine-learning algorithm that analyzes changes in routine EEG in response to
standardized questions presented to the patient by headphones. The BCI system will provide immediate closed-
loop feedback (auditory and/or visual) to patients about their performance. To achieve our goals, we will first test
if conscious ICU patients are able to express basic needs, such as pain, to health care providers using the BCI
technology. Patients will trigger the BCI system to then express their needs in response to specific questions
(e.g., “Do you have pain?”). Secondly, we will determine whether basic communication is possible for patients
with cognitive motor dissociation (i.e., patients who appear unconscious, but follow commands using EEG motor
imagery paradigms). We will test if these patients are able to use the BCI system to respond to simple questions
(i.e., “Activate the alarm”). Finally, we will assess the patient's experience using BCI technology as part of this
study, as well as acceptance of using BCI technology in future clinical trials from patients, families, and health
care providers involved in the study. The long-term goal of this proposal is to prepare a large clinical trial to test
the benefits of BCI-assisted communication in brain-injured ICU patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9931317
- **Project number:** 5R03NS112760-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Jan Claassen
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $81,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9931317

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9931317, BAsIC - Brain-computer-interface practical Application in the Intensive Care unit: a pilot study (5R03NS112760-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9931317. Licensed CC0.

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