A gaze-independent BCI paradigm used dummy face with only eyes region as stimuli

Abstract

The gaze-independent brain-computer interface (BCI) based on rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) is an extension of the oddball paradigm, and can facilitate communication for people with severe neuromuscular disorders. Recently, some researches showed that the gaze-independent BCIs based on RSVP used dummy face pictures as stimuli obtained high performance. However, the user' fatigue wasn't be fully considered. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce users' fatigue and to further improve the performance of them. Some studies suggested that face elicited high event related potential (ERP) were mediated by the eye region. That is, face with only eyes region could evoke as high ERPs as completed face. In this paper, an improved paradigm was presented which used dummy face with only eyes region as stimulus. Ten healthy subjects participated in our experiment. Compared with the complete dummy face stimulus, the results showed that the dummy face with only eyes region stimulus could evoke higher N200 and VPP amplitudes. Results from users' feedback also showed the dummy face with only eyes region pattern made them more relaxed.