Alongside the best-known applications of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for restoring communication abilities and\ncontrolling external devices, we present the state of the art of BCI use for cognitive assessment and training purposes. We first\ndescribe some preliminary attempts to develop verbal-motor free BCI-based tests for evaluating specific or multiple cognitive\ndomains in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, disorders of consciousness, and other neurological diseases. Then we\npresent the more heterogeneous and advanced field of BCI-based cognitive training, which has its roots in the context of\nneurofeedback therapy and addresses patients with neurological developmental disorders (autism spectrumdisorder and attentiondeficit/\nhyperactivity disorder), stroke patients, and elderly subjects. We discuss some advantages of BCI for both assessment and\ntraining purposes, the former concerning the possibility of longitudinally and reliably evaluating cognitive functions in patients\nwith severe motor disabilities, the latter regarding the possibility of enhancing patients� motivation and engagement for improving\nneural plasticity. Finally, we discuss some present and future challenges in the BCI use for the described purposes.
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