The brain–computer interface cycle

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have attracted much attention recently, triggered by new scientific progress in understanding brain function and by impressive applications. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the various steps in the BCI cycle, i.e., the loop from the measurement of brain activity, classification of data, feedback to the subject and the effect of feedback on brain activity. In this article we will review the critical steps of the BCI cycle, the present issues and state-of-the-art results. Moreover, we will develop a vision on how recently obtained results may contribute to new insights in neurocognition and, in particular, in the neural representation of perceived stimuli, intended actions and emotions. Now is the right time to explore what can be gained by embracing real-time, online BCI and by adding it to the set of experimental tools already available to the cognitive neuroscientist. We close by pointing out some unresolved issues and present our view on how BCI could become an important new tool for probing human cognition.

Name that tune: Decoding music from the listening brain

“…Using multivariate decoding methods on EEG signals is quite common in the domain of brain-computer interfacing (BCI) research, where covert mental actions are decoded in real-time with the goal of driving a device with one's brain signals, or thoughts (for a review, see Van Gerven et al, 2009). Although the detection of heard stimuli is not directly useful for BCI research as it does not relate any intention, classifying heard sounds teaches us more about the neural representations of complex auditory events, such as music and speech perception.…”

Transient and steady-state responses to mechanical stimulation of different fingers reveal interactions based on lateral inhibition

“…Furthermore, the SSSEP, and more specifically its attentional modulation property, has been used in a brain computer interface (BCI) (Muller-Putz et al 2006, Zhang et al 2007. In a BCI the goal for the subject is to intentionally modify a brain signal that can be detected by a computer and then translated into a useful output for interaction with the environment (van Gerven et al 2009). By attending to one of several tactile stimuli with a particular frequency, the SSSEP at this frequency is expected to be enhanced.…”

Technological Advancements in Affective Gaming: A Historical Survey

“…Electroencephalography (EEG), however, is an important technology in modern neuroscience. Compared to fMRI, EEG has a worse spatial resolution but a much better temporal resolution [27]. The electrical potentials related to emotion can be projected widely in an intricate pattern across the scalp, and can therefore overlap with potentials evoked by other activities.…”