9/18/2023 0 Comments Muse headband apps in objective c![]() A compelling example of this is the use of live brain monitoring to enable paraplegic patients to communicate via a computer interface. The first application area uses measured brain activity output to control a product to produce a physical action or enable communication. ![]() In health and wellness, mobile EEG monitoring has two main areas of developing application. Firmware within the device interprets the signals from a series of dry electrodes contained within a headset to provide continuous EEG signal traces. Unlike a glucose meter or spirometer, which provide simple point data, continuous monitoring falls into the class of complex wearables due to the additional rigour needed in managing and interpreting the data recorded.Ĭonsumer products that measure brain activity are essentially devices worn around the head to measure EEG signals. 1 An interesting aspect of the use of devices such as activity monitors is the recording of continuous monitoring data, and the associated complexity this brings in terms of the receipt, cleaning, interpretation and summary of the data. The take up of activity monitoring using miniature accelerometers is a great example of this boom, and one I focused on in my previous article. Processors and sensors have become smaller, faster and smarter which has enabled huge growth in the production of affordable consumer devices aimed at the health and wellness market. The boom in wearable devices has been facilitated by technological advances enabling the miniaturization of sensors and circuitry. While related to brain training and cognitive function testing, the focus of this article is on the application of a new set of devices which are becoming available to consumers to directly measure brain activity. This is already happening, Pfizer and Shire for example are using the Akili computer game to develop cognition endpoints for Alzhiemer’s and ADHD patients respectively. These sorts of approaches certainly open the door to large scale cognitive function testing in clinical trials, where traditionally only laboratory-based testing in smaller groups of patients has been practical. Clinical research studies have shown that these brain training approaches can significantly improve executive function, for example improving cognitive outcomes in patient populations such as breast cancer survivors by reducing the impact of chemotherapy on cognitive function. ![]() Perhaps better known, Lumosity provides a framework to train and track aspects of cognitive function using a variety of games that can be accessed via PC or mobile device. ![]() Examples include Fit Brains Trainer (Rosetta Stone) and Elevate Brain Training (Elevate Inc.), both available on iPhone, which both use games and tests to help improve and maintain focus, processing speed, memory, attention, and problem solving skills. The availability and use of brain training techniques to improve and maintain aspects of cognition has increased with the availability of mobile apps and cloud-based web applications. Exercise, healthy eating and positive social interactions are already known to improve these aspects of brain health, as are continually exercising the cognitive abilities of our brains. Aspects of brain health include the way we think, feel, play, work, recall information, and sleep. 1 In this article, I turn to another growth area in consumer health technologies-the rising interest in brain health. In July last year, I wrote about the growth in consumer use of activity monitoring devices and their application and potential for clinical research. ![]()
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