Abstract
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow a user to interact with a computer system using thought. However, only recently have devices capable of providing sophisticated multi-dimensional control been achieved non-invasively. A major goal for non-invasive BCI systems has been to provide continuous, intuitive, and accurate control, while retaining a high level of user autonomy. By employing electroencephalography (EEG) to record and decode sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) induced from motor imaginations, a consistent, user-specific control signal may be characterized. Utilizing a novel method of interactive and continuous control, we trained three normal subjects to modulate their SMRs to achieve three-dimensional movement of a virtual helicopter that is fast, accurate, and continuous. In this system, the virtual helicopter's forward-backward translation and elevation controls were actuated through the modulation of sensorimotor rhythms that were converted to forces applied to the virtual helicopter at every simulation time step, and the helicopter's angle of left or right rotation was linearly mapped, with higher resolution, from sensorimotor rhythms associated with other motor imaginations. These different resolutions of control allow for interplay between general intent actuation and fine control as is seen in the gross and fine movements of the arm and hand. Subjects controlled the helicopter with the goal of flying through rings (targets) randomly positioned and oriented in a three-dimensional space. The subjects flew through rings continuously, acquiring as many as 11 consecutive rings within a five-minute period. In total, the study group successfully acquired over 85% of presented targets. These results affirm the effective, three-dimensional control of our motor imagery based BCI system, and suggest its potential applications in biological navigation, neuroprosthetics, and other applications.
Highlights
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that interprets the thoughts of the user to produce commands that control a computer or device
While these invasive BCI systems have shown great promise for controlling an external device from signals extracted from the brain of animals or human subjects, these systems present various degrees of risk associated with the implantation of a recording device in the subject’s brain
We previously demonstrated a reductionist approach to the 3D control problem in which subjects used two-dimensional control to gain mastery of 3D space [22]
Summary
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that interprets the thoughts of the user to produce commands that control a computer or device. Until recent years, sophisticated thought-based control of movement in multiple dimensions was relegated to the subcategory of invasive BCI systems [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] While these invasive BCI systems have shown great promise for controlling an external device from signals extracted from the brain of animals or human subjects, these systems present various degrees of risk associated with the implantation of a recording device in the subject’s brain. As such, they are practicable only in cases where motor ability is extremely impaired and alternate communication methods are infeasible
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