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| Google uses electrical signals from the brain to monitor depression |
An experimental research team is working as (X) for parent company Google Alphabet Inc. A pilot has to watch for symptoms of depression.
In a new blog post, the team explained how a team of neuroscientists, hardware and software engineers, and product experts developed a three-year series of prototypes called Project Amber.
The project aims to find a more objective method for monitoring symptoms of depression, develop objective measurement methods, and make brain waves easy to understand so that they can be used in diagnosis and treatment.
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 17.3 million adults in the United States have had at least one episode of depression.
There are 1,000 sets of basic symptoms. Depression manifests itself in different ways in different people. Today's assessments are mainly based on conversations with doctors or questionnaires such as PHQ-9 or GAD-7.
Because of the high cost and inadequate provision of medical care, nearly 30 million people in the United States suffer from mental illness and have not received treatment. Tech companies see opportunities to help.
The Amber Project team tried to combine machine learning technology with an electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure electrical activity in the brain.
Opie Felten, director of Lab X wrote: The alphabet is based on a technology called electroencephalography (EEG), which measures electrical activity patterns in the brain.
The company developed a new brain monitoring device that looks like a multi-colored swim cap and data analysis tools.
The company plans to bring the technology to the wider mental health community by releasing the source code behind hardware and software design.
Many research laboratories around the world use electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity. However, Felten stated that Alphabet believes this can facilitate data collection and interpretation.
The team is committed to using technology for continuous monitoring. This means understanding the changes that will occur to patients during the visit and anticipating future episodes of depression.
The device is currently in an experimental stage and has not been approved by the FDA for clinical use. Alphabet said: It will soon publish a report that will include more research.