Tool measures brain waves to assess cognitive ability

Hock Gan, a PhD student at the University’s School of Computer Science, is working with Ian Glasscock at Games for Life to use an electroencephalography (EEG) headset to assess cognitive ability in children with severe physical and neurological impairments.

‘Children with severe physical and neurological impairments, for example, with very restricted movement and no speech resulting from cerebral palsy, cannot be assessed by conventional tests of ability,’ said Glasscock. ‘As a consequence, many of these children’s abilities go unrecorded or under-estimated. A computer-based tool could revolutionise the way assessment and learning is undertaken with this group.’

Now six months into the three-and-a-half year project, the researchers have used different wireless electrode headsets that make it a much simpler kit than historical brain-sensing technology.

The EEG data stream from the headset reveals when a child is focusing on a screen and allows the assessment to take place through measuring brain waves. The researchers are also using multi-modal human-computer interaction technologies to better determine exactly what the child is focusing on.