Graz Brain-Computer Interface Research Articles

Towards Implantable Brain-Computer Interface for Communication in Locked-In Syndrome patients

Abstract Locked-in Syndrome (LIS) severely restricts the communication abilities of individuals due to extensive paralysis. The Intracranial Neuro Telemetry to Restore communication (INTRECOM) project aims to aid patients in overcoming these limitations by developing a fully implantable brain computer interface (BCI) system based on state-of-the-art technology holding great promise in revolutionizing the lives of LIS patients. In this project, the Graz BCI group, with its expertise in understanding brain dynamics associated with movement, focuses on the algorithmic development of advanced decoders that enable the user to execute specific commands by simply attempting corresponding movements. Our preliminary findings using electrocorticography (ECoG) data obtained from one individual with LIS that underwent implantation of a BCI communication system demonstrate the applicability of a ‘brain switch’ function that detects brain signals associated with attempted movements. This switch can then be used to translate the intention of the user into a click/select function on a screen.

Cognitive and Affective Probing for Neuroergonomics

Cognitive and Affective Probing for Neuroergonomics

Motor imagery based EEG features visualization for BCI applications

Over recent years, electroencephalography’s (EEG) use in the state-of-the-art brain-computer interface (BCI) technology has broadened to augment the quality of life, both with medical and non-medical applications. For medical applications, the availability of real-time data for processing, which could be used as command signals to control robotic devices, is limited to specific platforms. This paper focuses on the possibility to analyse and visualize EEG signal features using OpenViBE acquisition platform in offline mode apart from its default real-time processing capability, and the options available for processing of data in offline mode. We employed OpenViBE platform to acquire EEG signals, pre-process it and extract features for a BCI system. For testing purposes, we analysed and tried to visualize EEG data offline, by developing scenarios, using method for quantification of event-related (de)synchronization ERD/ERS patterns, as well as, built in signal processing algorithms available in OpenViBE-designer toolbox. Acquired data was based on deployment of standard Graz BCI experimental protocol, used for foot kinaesthetic motor imagery (KMI). Results clearly reflect that the platform OpenViBE is a streaming tool that encourages processing and analysis of EEG data online, contrary to analysis, or visualization of data in offline, or global mode. For offline analysis and visualization of data, other relevant platforms are discussed. In online execution of BCI, OpenViBE is a potential tool for the control of wearable lower-limb devices, robotic vehicles and rehabilitation equipment. Other applications include remote control of mechatronic devices, or driving of passenger cars by human thoughts.

Cybathlon experiences of the Graz BCI racing team Mirage91 in the brain-computer interface discipline

BackgroundIn this work, we share our experiences made at the world-wide first CYBATHLON, an event organized by the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETH Zürich), which took place in Zurich in October 2016. It is a championship for severely motor impaired people using assistive prototype devices to compete against each other. Our team, the Graz BCI Racing Team MIRAGE91 from Graz University of Technology, participated in the discipline “Brain-Computer Interface Race”. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a device facilitating control of applications via the user’s thoughts. Prominent applications include assistive technology such as wheelchairs, neuroprostheses or communication devices. In the CYBATHLON BCI Race, pilots compete in a BCI-controlled computer game.MethodsWe report on setting up our team, the BCI customization to our pilot including long term training and the final BCI system. Furthermore, we describe CYBATHLON participation and analyze our CYBATHLON result.ResultsWe found that our pilot was compliant over the whole time and that we could significantly reduce the average runtime between start and finish from initially 178 s to 143 s. After the release of the final championship specifications with shorter track length, the average runtime converged to 120 s. We successfully participated in the qualification race at CYBATHLON 2016, but performed notably worse than during training, with a runtime of 196 s.DiscussionWe speculate that shifts in the features, due to the nonstationarities in the electroencephalogram (EEG), but also arousal are possible reasons for the unexpected result. Potential counteracting measures are discussed.ConclusionsThe CYBATHLON 2016 was a great opportunity for our student team. We consolidated our theoretical knowledge and turned it into practice, allowing our pilot to play a computer game. However, further research is required to make BCI technology invariant to non-task related changes of the EEG.

Extracting features from phase space of EEG signals in brain–computer interfaces

Conventional feature extraction methods based on autoregressive and amplitude–frequency analysis assume stationarity in the Electroencephalogram signal along short time intervals in Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) studies. This paper proposes a feature extraction method based on phase space for motor imagery tasks recognition. To remodel the single nonlinear sequence is to reveal variety information hidden in the original series by its phase space reconstruction, and maintaining the original information continuity. Three phase space features (PSF) datasets are used to classify two Graz BCI datasets. The simulation has shown that the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifiers based on the PSF outperform all the winners of the BCI Competition 2003 and other similar studies on the same Graz dataset in terms of the competition criterion of the mutual information (MI) or misclassification rate. The maximal MI was 0.67 and the minimal misclassification rate was 9.29% for Graz2003 dataset by using the combined PSF. According to the competition criterion of the maximal MI steepness, the LDA classifier based on PSF yielded a better performance than the winner of the BCI Competition 2005 and other similar research on the same Graz dataset for subject O3. The maximal MI steepness of O3 is 0.7355.

FEATURE EXTRACTION OF MOTOR IMAGERY EEG BASED ON WAVELET TRANSFORM AND HIGHER-ORDER STATISTICS

Feature extraction plays an important role in brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. In order to characterize the motor imagery related rhythm and higher-order statistics information contained within the EEG signals, a novel feature extraction method based on harmonic wavelet transform and bispectrum is developed and applied to the recognition of right and left motor imageries for developing EEG-based BCI systems. The experimental results on the Graz BCI data set have shown that the separability of the two classes features extracted by the proposed method is notable. Its performance was evaluated by a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier. The recognition accuracy of 90% was obtained. The recognition results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method. This method provides an effective way for EEG feature extraction in BCI system.

Human–Computer Interface Issues in Controlling Virtual Reality With Brain–Computer Interface

We have integrated the Graz brain–computer interface (BCI) system with a highly immersive virtual reality (VR) Cave-like system. This setting allows for a new type of experience, whereby participants can control a virtual world using imagery of movement. However, current BCI systems still have many limitations. In this article we present two experiments exploring the different constraints posed by current BCI systems when used in VR. In the first experiment we let the participants make free choices during the experience and compare their BCI performance with participants using BCI without free choice; this is unlike most previous work in this area, in which participants are requested to obey cues. In the second experiment we allowed participants to control a virtual body with motor imagery. We provide both quantitative and subjective results, regarding both BCI accuracy and the nature of the subjective experience in this new type of setting.

The self-paced graz brain-computer interface: methods and applications.

We present the self-paced 3-class Graz brain-computer interface (BCI) which is based on the detection of sensorimotor electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms induced by motor imagery. Self-paced operation means that the BCI is able to determine whether the ongoing brain activity is intended as control signal (intentional control) or not (non-control state). The presented system is able to automatically reduce electrooculogram (EOG) artifacts, to detect electromyographic (EMG) activity, and uses only three bipolar EEG channels. Two applications are presented: the freeSpace virtual environment (VE) and the Brainloop interface. The freeSpace is a computer-game-like application where subjects have to navigate through the environment and collect coins by autonomously selecting navigation commands. Three subjects participated in these feedback experiments and each learned to navigate through the VE and collect coins. Two out of the three succeeded in collecting all three coins. The Brainloop interface provides an interface between the Graz-BCI and Google Earth.

15 years of BCI research at graz university of technology: current projects

Over the last 15 years, the Graz Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) has been developed and all components such as feature extraction and classification, mode of operation, mental strategy, and type of feedback have been investigated. Recent projects deal with the development of asynchronous BCIs, the presentation of feedback and applications for communication and control.

Current trends in Graz brain-computer interface (BCI) research

This paper describes a research approach to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) based on recognition of subject-specific EEG patterns. EEG signals recorded from sensorimotor areas during mental imagination of specific movements are classified on-line and used e.g. for cursor control. In a number of on-line experiments, various methods for EEG feature extraction and classification have been evaluated.

Graz brain-computer interface II: towards communication between humans and computers based on online classification of three different EEG patterns.

The paper describes work on the brain--computer interface (BCI). The BCI is designed to help patients with severe motor impairment (e.g. amyotropic lateral sclerosis) to communicate with their environment through wilful modification of their EEG. To establish such a communication channel, two major prerequisites have to be fulfilled: features that reliably describe several distinctive brain states have to be available, and these features must be classified on-line, i.e. on a single-trial basis. The prototype Graz BCI II, which is based on the distinction of three different types of EEG pattern, is described, and results of online and offline classification performance of four subjects are reported. The online results suggest that, in the best case, a classification accuracy of about 60% is reached after only three training sessions. The online results show how selection of specific frequency bands influences the classification performance in single-trial data.