Brain signal games must be regulated

EDUCATIONAL aids and video games that tap into brainwaves should be classified as medical devices, it is claimed.

The games, which use a helmet or headband to pick up electrical signals, should be regulated in the same way as breast implants and pacemakers, says a think tank which includes Edinburgh University experts.

One example being sold is the game Mindball, in which brainwaves control a ball’s movement on a table. As well as being entertainment, the game is meant to train players to be relaxed and focused.

Such games should be subjected to medical device scrutiny under European Commision law, says the report from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.