Brain Computer Interfaces Research Papers (original) (raw)

Declarations can be found on page 12 DOI 10.7717/peerj.1017 Copyright 2015 Perrineau et al.

Optimizing neurofeedback (NF) and brain–computer interface (BCI) implementations constitutes a challenge across many fields and has so far been addressed by, among others, advancing signal processing methods or predicting the user’s... more

Optimizing neurofeedback (NF) and brain–computer interface (BCI) implementations constitutes a challenge across many fields and has so far been addressed by, among others, advancing signal processing methods or predicting the user’s control ability from neurophysiological or psychological measures. In comparison, how context factors influence NF/BCI performance is largely unexplored. We here investigate whether a competitive multi-user condition leads to better NF/BCI performance than a single-user condition. We implemented a foot motor imagery (MI) NF with mobile electroencephalography (EEG). Twenty-five healthy, young participants steered a humanoid robot in a single-user condition and in a competitive multi-user race condition using a second humanoid robot and a pseudo competitor. NF was based on 8–30 Hz relative event-related desynchronization (ERD) over sensorimotor areas. There was no significant difference between the ERD during the competitive multi-user condition and the si...

In recent years, the growth of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has been remarkable in specific application fields, such as the medical sector or the entertainment industry. Most of these fields use evoked potentials, like P300, to obtain... more

In recent years, the growth of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has been remarkable in specific application fields, such as the medical sector or the entertainment industry. Most of these fields use evoked potentials, like P300, to obtain neural data able to handle prostheses or achieve greater immersion experience in videogames. The natural use of BCI involves the management of sensitive users' information as behaviors, emotions, or thoughts. In this context, new security breaches in BCI are offering cybercriminals the possibility of collecting sensitive data and affecting subjects' physical integrity, which are critical issues. For all these reasons, the fact of applying efficient cybersecurity mechanisms has become a main challenge. To improve this challenge, this chapter proposes a framework able to detect cyberattacks affecting one of the most typical scenarios of BCI, the generation of P300 through visual stimuli. A pool of experiments demonstrates the performance of the proposed framework.

Stroke can be a source of significant upper extremity dysfunction and affect the quality of life (QoL) in survivors. In this context, novel rehabilitation approaches employing robotic rehabilitation devices combined with brain-machine... more

Stroke can be a source of significant upper extremity dysfunction and affect the quality of life (QoL) in survivors. In this context, novel rehabilitation approaches employing robotic rehabilitation devices combined with brain-machine interfaces can greatly help in expediting functional recovery in these individuals by actively engaging the user during therapy. However, optimal training conditions and parameters for these novel therapeutic systems are still unknown. Here, we present preliminary findings demonstrating successful movement intent detection from scalp electroencephalography (EEG) during robotic rehabilitation using the MAHI Exo-II in an individual with hemiparesis following stroke. These findings have strong clinical implications for the development of closed-loop brain-machine interfaces to robotic rehabilitation systems.

Nonhuman primate and human studies have suggested that populations of neurons in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) may represent high-level aspects of action planning that can be used to control external devices as part of a... more

Nonhuman primate and human studies have suggested that populations of neurons in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) may represent high-level aspects of action planning that can be used to control external devices as part of a brain-machine interface. However, there is no direct neuron-recording evidence that human PPC is involved in action planning, and the suitability of these signals for neuroprosthetic control has not been tested. We recorded neural population activity with arrays of microelectrodes implanted in the PPC of a tetraplegic subject. Motor imagery could be decoded from these neural populations, including imagined goals, trajectories, and types of movement. These findings indicate that the PPC of humans represents high-level, cognitive aspects of action and that the PPC can be a rich source for cognitive control signals for neural prosthetics that assist paralyzed patients.

Existing brain-machine interfacing techniques allow either high precision recordings from one or a few single neurons, or low spatial resolution recordings with a sparse sampling within the networks. Through our approach an efficient... more

Existing brain-machine interfacing techniques allow either high precision recordings from one or a few single neurons, or low spatial resolution recordings with a sparse sampling within the networks. Through our approach an efficient simultaneous bidirectional communication to the brain is realized using capacitively coupled recording and stimulation sites arranged in a large 2D multi-transistor array (MTA) with 1000 elements, integrated to a planar chip at high resolution (10mum pitch and below). The aim of the present work is to evaluate the reliability of a simple-generation silicon micro-device in recording neuronal signals from rat brain. Simultaneous recording of signals using this chip from the somatosensory cortex (S1) of living rat, are compared to standard in vivo recordings with a glass micropipette. We show that the two types of signals are identical, indicating the possibility to record signals at the same time from different sites and to perform a real-time electrical imaging of the brain cortex in vivo.

Although EEG experiments over the past decades have shown numerous applications for brain-computer interfacing (BCI), there is a need for user-friendly BCI devices that can be used in real-world situations. 3D anthropometry and... more

Although EEG experiments over the past decades have shown numerous applications for brain-computer interfacing (BCI), there is a need for user-friendly BCI devices that can be used in real-world situations. 3D anthropometry and statistical shape modeling have been shown to improve the fit of devices such as helmets and respirators, and thus they might also be suitable to design BCI headgear that better fits the size and shape variation of the human head. In this paper, a new design method for BCI devices is proposed and evaluated. A one-size-fits-all BCI headset frame is designed on the basis of three digital mannequins derived from a shape model of the human head. To verify the design, the geometric fit, stability and repeatability of the prototype were compared to an EEG cap and a commercial BCI headset in a preliminary experiment. Most design specifications were met, and all the results were found to be similar to those of the commercial headset. Therefore, the suggested design method is a feasible alternative to traditional anthropometric design for BCI headsets and similar headgear.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has funded innovative scientific research and technology developments in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) since the 1970s. This review highlights some of DARPA's major... more

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has funded innovative scientific research and technology developments in the field of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) since the 1970s. This review highlights some of DARPA's major advances in the field of BCI, particularly those made in recent years. Two broad categories of DARPA programs are presented with respect to the ultimate goals of supporting the nation's warfighters: (1) BCI efforts aimed at restoring neural and/or behavioral function, and (2) BCI efforts aimed at improving human training and performance. The programs discussed are synergistic and complementary to one another, and, moreover, promote interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, engineers, and clinicians. Finally, this review includes a summary of some of the remaining challenges for the field of BCI, as well as the goals of new DARPA efforts in this domain.

We focus on the problem of detection of the user’s area of interest within a single web page, or the web page of interest within different web pages. Current methods either use some kind of manual ranking, or apply parameters such as the... more

We focus on the problem of detection of the user’s area of interest within a single web page, or the web page of interest within different web pages. Current methods either use some kind of manual ranking, or apply parameters such as the time the user spends on a specific area of the page to determine the area of interest. We postulate that the attention level of the user while browsing is a more reliable indication of the user’s level of interest. We use EEG inputs from a NeuroSky MindWave headset to capture the user’s attention level in real time. A background script in a web browser in a mobile device captures the part of the webpage currently being browsed by noting the percentage of the page that the user has scrolled to. The attention level and the percentage of the page scrolled are mapped using the timestamp as the key. Our solution is integrated with the mobile web browser architecture. Using our method, we determine and map the average attention level within the same page,...

Technology Assessment (TA) is an approach, a collective of systematic methods to investigate technological developments and evaluate its potential impacts within society. Anticipating impacts of emerging technologies is a challenging... more

Technology Assessment (TA) is an approach, a collective of systematic methods to investigate technological developments and evaluate its potential impacts within society. Anticipating impacts of emerging technologies is a challenging undertaking, once a great deal of uncertainties and emerging development paths not always lead to a significant future. The dynamics of technological trajectories arise from actions and interactions amongst various actors and stakeholders involved; when understanding these dynamics they can act more reflexively and better shape future development directions. The participatory approach of Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA) offers a comprehensive and active process in evaluating potential social impacts and perspectives for emerging technologies. Through the engaging of different actors and a mutual sharing of information, a broadening of perspectives is achieved, widening their view of the innovation process and the possible consequences of new and existing applications. Adjustments and corrections of paths could then take place, offering feedback into ongoing choices and strategies. A Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system which measures central nervous system (CNS) activity and converts it into artificial output without using the normal pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles, thereby changing the ongoing interactions between the CNS and its external or internal environment. Although BCI is still in its early stages of development, current research and applications show increasing possibilities for even further improvements. BCIs are present in many areas, but specifically its medical applications allow for the replacement, restoration, enhancement, improvement and supplementation of human functions. This clearly raises many questions about ethics, morals and responsibility. This article aims to reflect upon how the BCI community has been assessing the ethical, moral and philosophical issues as well as to investigate if a CTA approach is being put in place, even if not in a conscious way. Moreover, an explicit integration of the ethical dimension into the TA approach and in Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies is expected from the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) perspective. Thus this article also seeks to highlight the importance of assessing and prioritizing possible ethical, moral and philosophical impacts as well as related risks and opportunities for the present and future.

Any brain–computer interface (BCI) system must translate signals from the users brain into messages or commands (see Fig. 1). Many signal processing and machine learning techniques have been developed for this signal translation, and this... more

Any brain–computer interface (BCI) system must translate signals from the users brain into messages or commands (see Fig. 1). Many signal processing and machine learning techniques have been developed for this signal translation, and this chapter reviews the most common ones. Although these techniques are often illustrated using electroencephalography (EEG) signals in this chapter, they are also suitable for other brain signals.

Most Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) research aims at helping people who are severely paralyzed to regain control over their environment and to communicate with their social environment. There has been a tremendous increase in BCI research... more

Most Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) research aims at helping people who are severely paralyzed to regain control over their environment and to communicate with their social environment. There has been a tremendous increase in BCI research the last years, which might lead to the belief that we are close to a commercially available BCI applications to patients. However, studies with users from the future target group (those who are indeed paralyzed) are still outnumbered by studies on technical aspects of BCI applications and studies with healthy young participants. This might explain why the number of patients who use a BCI in daily life, without experts from a BCI group being present, can be counted on one hand.

Abstract—The electroencephalogram (EEG) is modified by motor imagery and can be used by patients with severe motor impairments (eg, late stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) to communicate with their environment. Such a direct... more

Abstract—The electroencephalogram (EEG) is modified by motor imagery and can be used by patients with severe motor impairments (eg, late stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) to communicate with their environment. Such a direct connection between the brain and the computer is ...

Recently research into Brain-Computer Interfacing (BCI) applications for healthy users, such as games, has been initiated. But why would a healthy person use a still-unproven technology such as BCI for game interaction? BCI provides a... more

Recently research into Brain-Computer Interfacing (BCI) applications for healthy users, such as games, has been initiated. But why would a healthy person use a still-unproven technology such as BCI for game interaction? BCI provides a combination of information and features that no other input modality can offer. But for general acceptance of this technology, usability and user experience will need to be taken into account when designing such systems. Therefore, this chapter gives an overview of the state of the art of BCI in games and discusses the consequences of applying knowledge from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) to the design of BCI for games. The integration of HCI with BCI is illustrated by research examples and showcases, intended to take this promising technology out of the lab. Future research needs to move beyond feasibility tests, to prove that BCI is also applicable in realistic, real-world settings.

Recent advances in electrodes for noninvasive recording of electroencephalograms expand opportunities collecting such data for diagnosis of neurological disorders and brain-computer interfaces. Existing technologies, however, cannot be... more

Recent advances in electrodes for noninvasive recording of electroencephalograms expand opportunities collecting such data for diagnosis of neurological disorders and brain-computer interfaces. Existing technologies, however, cannot be used effectively in continuous, uninterrupted modes for more than a few days due to irritation and irreversible degradation in the electrical and mechanical properties of the skin interface. Here we introduce a soft, foldable collection of electrodes in open, fractal mesh geometries that can mount directly and chronically on the complex surface topology of the auricle and the mastoid, to provide high-fidelity and long-term capture of electroencephalograms in ways that avoid any significant thermal, electrical, or mechanical loading of the skin. Experimental and computational studies establish the fundamental aspects of the bending and stretching mechanics that enable this type of intimate integration on the highly irregular and textured surfaces of th...

It has been argued that Extended Cognition (EXT), a recently much discussed framework in the philosophy of cognition, would serve as the theoretical basis to account for the impact of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) on the self and life... more

It has been argued that Extended Cognition (EXT), a recently much discussed framework in the philosophy of cognition, would serve as the theoretical basis to account for the impact of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) on the self and life of patients with Locked-in Syndrome (LIS). In this paper I will argue that this claim is unsubstantiated, EXT is not the appropriate theoretical background for understanding the role of BCI in LIS. I will critically assess what a theory of the extended self would comprise and provide a list of desiderata for a theory of self that EXT fails to accommodate for. There is, however, an alternative framework in Cognitive Science, Enactivism, which entails the basis for an account of self that is able to accommodate for these desiderata. I will outline some first steps towards an Enactive approach to the self, suggesting that the self could be considered as a form of human autonomy. Understanding the self from an enactive point of view will allow to shed new light on the questions of whether and how BCIs affect or change the selves of patients with LIS.