Helping People with Disabilities Communicate Through EMOTIV Technology

We frequently receive inquiries about the use of EMOTIV devices by individuals with varying degrees of paralysis, including those affected by ALS, cerebral palsy, stroke, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, and more. This message is intended to provide an overview of how our technology can help. Please feel free to reach out with additional questions — we are here to support you.

Can EMOTIV headsets be used by people with little or no muscle control?

Our products, such as the Emotiv EPOC X or Insight, are EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems that read brain signals. While they do not directly enable speech, they can be used as part of a brain-controlled communication system, especially when paired with compatible software platforms. These systems can be trained to recognize certain mental commands or attention patterns, which can then be used to trigger actions—like selecting letters, symbols, or commands on a screen.

For non-verbal individuals with conditions like cerebral palsy, this could mean:

• Expressing basic needs or emotions.
• Selecting pre-programmed messages.
• Interacting with assistive applications using brain activity.

That said, success with BCIs varies from person to person and usually requires:

• Time and patience for setup and training.
• Support from caregivers or therapists.
• A suitable environment for using the headset comfortably.

EMOTIV detections are divided into three main categories: Mental Commands, Facial Expressions, and Performance Metrics.

• Facial expressions rely on facial muscle activations. Our software uses a universal model with adjustable sensitivity, and users can retrain the system to recognize subtle, intended expressions even with partial paralysis. Commonly detected actions include blinks, winks, and horizontal eye movements — movements that many individuals with paralysis can still perform.
• Performance metrics measure cognitive states like Excitement, Interest, Engagement, Stress, Focus, and Relaxation. While designed mainly for gaming and non-medical purposes, they can still be used creatively — for example, to adjust ambient music, lighting, or as a simple alert system.
• Mental Commands allow users to perform actions based solely on brain signals. Many individuals who are partially or fully locked-in can still successfully train mental commands. Up to four commands (plus Neutral) can be active at a time, enabling simple, intuitive control systems.

Additionally, all EMOTIV headsets include a 10-axis motion sensor (gyroscope/accelerometer) that can be used as a pointing device or to detect intentional head or neck movements for additional inputs.

Real-world success stories and possibilities

We’ve witnessed many inspiring outcomes. Severely injured individuals, once disinterested in life, have regained engagement, motivation, and sometimes even improved physical abilities after interacting with our devices through mental gameplay. Regular use can stimulate not only the mind but also physical responses like neck muscle strengthening and improved facial movement.

Our headsets are designed to interpret mental intentions, enabling users to control digital or physical devices purely by thought. For example:

• Thinking “move left” moves a cursor left.
• Thinking “wave” can make a connected robotic arm wave.

This powerful capability has led to real-world applications for assistive communication, mobility aids, and new forms of expression for people living with severe disabilities.

Where to begin: Using EmotivBCI

We recommend starting with our EmotivBCI software. It’s an intuitive training tool that allows users to practice and strengthen mental commands in a fun, engaging way.

Even simple tasks — such as controlling a 3D cube in the software — can be mapped for communication:

• Moving the cube up could signal “I’m feeling happy.”
• Moving it left could mean “I need help.”
• Moving it right could express “Yes.”

These basic interactions can lay the foundation for more advanced communication systems over time. If you or your team have programming capabilities, it is also possible to integrate mental command outputs with third-party devices through the Node-RED Toolbox or Cortex SDK, enabling powerful customizations like triggering lights, sounds, or assistive technologies. You can refer to this BCI tutorial on building a BCI (Brain-Computer Interface) project using EMOTIV EEG headsets as it provides a comprehensive guide on how to harness brainwave data to control various devices or applications.

Further inspiration

Here are some videos and case studies demonstrating how EMOTIV technology has been used:

Philips and Accenture innovation helps ALS patients

Damien typing with his mind using EPOC:

EEG controlled wheelchair with EPOC+

Use the force-controlling BB8 ball with EMOTIV INSIGHT

Controlling a drone with EPOC+

Producing music with EPOC+

Rodrigo Mendez and Formula 1

Brain Paint by John

Mario Alvarado creates music with his brainwaves

BCI4Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

Development BCI for individuals with severe disabilities using EMOTIV EEG headset and robot

You can also find Scholarly papers and additional research projects showing how EMOTIV is contributing to neurorehabilitation and assistive technology development.

At EMOTIV, we are proud to see our devices making a real difference in the lives of individuals and families. We remain committed to supporting innovation, recovery, and the rediscovery of joy through technology. If you would like guidance on how to get started or need help choosing the right device, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help every step of the way.