Evaluation of various mental task combinations for near-infrared spectroscopy-based brain-computer interfaces

Abstract

A number of recent studies have demonstrated that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promisingneuroimaging modality for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). So far, most NIRS-based BCI studies have focusedon enhancing the accuracy of the classification of different mental tasks. In the present study, we evaluated theperformances of a variety of mental task combinations in order to determine the mental task pairs that are bestsuited for customized NIRS-based BCIs. To this end, we recorded event-related hemodynamic responses whileseven participants performed eight different mental tasks. Classification accuracies were then estimated for allpossible pairs of the eight mental tasks (8C2 = 28). Based on this analysis, mental task combinations with relatively high classification accuracies frequently included the following three mental tasks: “mental multiplication,” “mental rotation,” and “right-hand motor imagery.” Specifically, mental task combinations consisting of two of these three mental tasks showed the highest mean classification accuracies. It is expected that our results will be a useful reference to reduce the time needed for preliminary tests when discovering individual-specific mental task combinations.

Preliminary Study of Gender-Based Brain Lateralization Using Multi-Channel Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

“…After realignment, it can be clearly seen that Task 1 (double digit subtraction) gave a higher OHb response in both genders compared to Task 2 (Latin reading and speaking). The higher hemodynamic response of Task 1 is in line with the previous finding that arithmetic tasks are able to bring about a much more distinguishable hemodynamic response than other tasks [28]. The results also indicate that abstract Preliminary Study of Gender-Based Brain Lateralization Using Multi-Channel … -Zephaniah Phillips V et al reading based tasks did not give a high enough hemodynamic response in order to conclude that it elicits right hemisphere activation.…”

Mental stress assessment using simultaneous measurement of EEG and fNIRS

“…In contrast, features from fNIRS were classified with 84.15 ± 6.8, 82.4% ± 6.3 and 86% ± 7.2 accuracy, sensitivity and specificity respectively. These fNIRS results outperformed previous studies [47,[88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98]. It however needs to be cautious as the data sets were different.…”

“…The PFC is related to working memory which enables us to hold in mind and mentally manipulate information over a short period of time. These aforementioned tasks are used in brain-computer interface (BCI) and attention studies [44][45][46][47][48]. More recently, fNIRS has been accepted as an assistive tool to differentiate depression, bipolar and schizophrenia [49,50].…”

Single-trial classification of near-infrared spectroscopy signals arising from multiple cortical regions

“…Thus, cognitive tasks that are not motor-based may be more suitable for a larger variety of potential BCI users and will be the focus of this work. These types of tasks previously considered for NIRS-BCI control have included mental arithmetic [4,5,7,8,[10][11][12]14], mental singing [6][7][8]14], word generation [9,12], mental rotation [12,14], and the n-back task [13].…”

“…This imaging modality has been used to detect the performance of a variety of controlled mental tasks including motor imagery tasks [2][3][4] and higherorder cognitive tasks [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] using measurements from the motor and prefrontal cortices, respectively. Individuals with congenital or long-term motor impairments may find it difficult or impossible to elicit a significant response in the motor cortex [15][16][17].…”