Brain computer interfaces

Brain computer interfaces

Motivation

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are devices, which acquire raw brain activity signals, analyze them, and translate them into commands that are transferred to output devices. In such a way BCI communication systems are independent from the brains regular output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles. For that unique reason, such devices may someday enable people with disabilities, including paralyzed people to use the computer and other technical equipment, on a par with other users.

  • Research directions

    Studies on the development of the BCI devices have more than 30-years of history. The most widely represented group of devices are non-invasive BCI systems with electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity monitoring. The most commonly used EEG-based BCI systems employ commonly known paradigms: an event-related synchronization of µ and β rhythms (ERD/ERS), event-related potentials (ERP) and steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP). Different mental commands have diverse, perspective applications – from rehabilitation, through biofeedback techniques to human augmentation.

    Nowadays much research activities concentrate on hybrid BCI systems (combining more than one BCI paradigm), multi-modal communication systems and signal analysis algorithms, especially spatial filtering and detection methods.


    Brain computer interfaces

    Brain computer interfaces

    Brain computer interfaces

    Brain computer interfaces

  • Achievements

    Instead of using classical spectrum analysis method in order to extract steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) from the recorded brain activity of the interface user we developed an alternative based on Canonical Correlation Analysis. This modification allows finding the best bipolar combination of measurement channels (one used as a signal channel, the other as a reference).

    The proposed detection algorithm improves classification accuracy in the groups of subjects with the average and poor results (rated based on classical spectrum analysis method). In the group of users with the best results, there was no clear improvement of the SSVEP detection accuracy. At the same time average detection times were not significantly better, but the measured overall information transfer rates were in many cases higher for the proposed method, which is due to higher classification accuracy of this method. It should be noticed that only a short off-line calibration session was necessary to achieve such results.

  • Perspectives

    Due to a high user SSVEP variation, BCI illiteracy phenomenon, and a low communication speed many BCI systems are still at the stage of laboratory demonstrations or small-scale clinical trials with promising results for patients with various neurological diseases. In our opinion, these limitations may be eliminated in the following years by improvement of portable EEG technologies (enabling reliable and effective use of an EEG recorder in home environments) as well as further development and optimization of BCI algorithms, spatial filtering and detection methods so that they can work reliably in uncontrolled environments.

  • Contact persons

    • Pawel Poryzala, PhD ORCiD, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • Relevant publications

Institute Structure – Divisions

Medical Electronics Division

Head of the Division
prof. Piotr Szczypiński


Communications Division

Head of the Division
prof. Sławomir Hausman


Electronic Circuits and Thermography Division

Head of the Division
prof. Bogusław Więcek

Address

Institute of Electronics
Lodz University of Technology
Al. Politechniki 10, B-9 building
93-590 Lodz, POLAND


Correspondence address

116 Żeromskiego Str.
PL 90-924 Lodz
POLAND

VAT identification number: PL 727-002-18-95