Research article summary (published 30 May 2003):

Learning to control brain rhythms: making a brain-computer interface possible.

Full Abstract

The ability to control electroencephalographic rhythms and to map those changes to the actuation of mechanical devices provides the basis for an assistive brain-computer interface (BCI). In this study, we investigate the ability of subjects to manipulate the sensorimotor mu rhythm (8-12-Hz oscillations recorded over the motor cortex) in the context of a rich visual representation of the feedback signal. Four subjects were trained for approximately 10 h over the course of five weeks to produce similar or differential mu activity over the two hemispheres in order to control left or right movement in a three-dimensional video game. Analysis of the data showed a steep learning curve for producing differential mu activity during the first six training sessions and leveling off during the final four sessions. In contrast, similar mu activity was easily obtained and maintained throughout all the training sessions. The results suggest that an intentional BCI based on a binary signal is possible. During a realistic, interactive, and motivationally engaging task, subjects learned to control levels of mu activity faster when it involves similar activity in both hemispheres. This suggests that while individual control of each hemisphere is possible, it requires more learning time.

Author information

Author/s: Pineda, Jaime A (JA); Silverman, David S (DS); Vankov, Andrey (A); Hestenes, John (J);

Affiliation: Cognitive Science Department 0515, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. pineda(-atsign-)cogsci.ucsd.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Validation Studies

Journal: IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jun; vol 11 (issue 2) : pp 181-4

Dates: Created 2003/08/05; Completed 2003/09/12; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12899268, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological Adolescent Adult Biofeedback (Psychology) - methods Cognition - physiology Electroencephalography - methods Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology

Humans Learning - physiology Male Motor Cortex - physiology Photic Stimulation Somatosensory Cortex - physiology User-Computer Interface

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