Chongqing - Southwest China’s first clinical ward for brain–computer interface (BCI) therapy has opened at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, using brain signal decoding to deliver personalized treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson’s, post-stroke impairments, and other neurological disorders.

By capturing and interpreting the brain's electrical activity, BCIs can translate thoughts—such as the intention to move or speak—into control commands for computers, robotic limbs, or rehabilitation equipment. The technology is emerging as one of the most promising intersections of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and clinical medicine.

Patients wear an EEG headband that records electrical signals generated by brain activity. (Photo/Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University)

"Traditional rehabilitation methods often fail to precisely capture neural signals or track the brain's self-repair process," said Chen Yangmei, director of the hospital's neurology department. "What makes this ward unique is its ability to decode the brain’s intentions directly. The system can translate a patient's imagined movement or desire to speak into specific rehabilitation instructions or control signals."

Patients wear a noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) headband that records electrical activity from the brain. The data are analyzed in real time by an AI-based decoding system that identifies motor or language intentions with high accuracy. These decoded commands then activate rehabilitation devices to guide physical training—ranging from hand function exercises to full-body mobility restoration for patients with hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, or paraplegia.

"Though officially classified as a ward, the facility functions more as a personalized rehabilitation platform," said Chen. Each patient undergoes a multidisciplinary evaluation upon admission, followed by a tailor-made treatment plan. The approach combines advanced neuroscience with precision medicine, aiming to help patients recover not only physical functions but also cognitive and communicative abilities that traditional therapy often cannot fully restore.

The launch of the BCI ward represents a significant shift in neurological treatment—from conventional physical rehabilitation to precise neural-signal intervention. Experts say it offers renewed hope for patients whose conditions have long been considered resistant to treatment.

BCI technology, which builds a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices, has increasingly drawn global attention in recent years for its potential to restore mobility and communication in patients with severe neurological impairments. In the United States, Elon Musk's Neuralink has made headlines for developing implantable chips designed to restore mobility and communication for paralyzed patients. Meanwhile, academic and clinical institutions across Europe and Japan are exploring noninvasive BCI systems for stroke rehabilitation, mental health monitoring, and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

China, however, is rapidly catching up. National plans released earlier this year have set ambitious targets for the sector — achieving key technological breakthroughs by 2027 and fostering several globally competitive enterprises by 2030. The rollout of new standards for noninvasive medical BCI devices further underscores this momentum, marking a transition from fragmented research to a more regulated phase of clinical application and commercial deployment.