Workshop on direct braincomputer interface

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Workshop on direct brain/computer interface
control

• Febo Cincotti
• Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS
• Brussels, August 2, 2006

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BCI logical scheme (yet another!)
Increase of performance
appropriate feature extraction
Modification ofBrain Signals
Signal Features
computer training
user training
Psychological Effort(Intention)
Classification Of Intent
Environment
appropriate feedback strategy
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Multiple aims

• Study of brain functions
• Rehabilitation
• through substitution
• through restoration
• Enhancement of brain-environment pathways
• Cyborg-like applications

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Technical Requirements depend on the User

• End user
• Clinical researchers, Neuroscientists
• Technical operators, Therapists
• Gamers, entertainers
• Cost/benefit of requirements vary over User Level

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Technical Requirements

• Targeting to the disabled-user, others will be
  adequately addressed or easily adapted.
• Cost/benefit of requirements vary over User Level

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Disability Level and Application

• Communication
• Environmental control
• Robotics / Mobility devices
• Neuroprosthetics

Most Severe
Least Severe
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Effectiveness-application-satisfaction chart
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Multiple points of view

• Target users
• Researchers (e.g., clinical researchers,
  neuroscientists, signal processing experts,
  etc.)
• Technical operators (e.g., caregivers, therapists
  who are in charge of training someone on BCI
  operation)
• End-users (e.g., people with disabilities who
  rely on the system for communication)
• Casual end-users (e.g., those who use a BCI as an
  alternative input for entertainment devices)

• Disciplines involved in research
• Engineering
• Clinical ...
• Psychological
• Neuroscience

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Clinical applications of BCI are not

• just application of potentially working
  technologies to a new group of experimental
  subjects.
• Working with patients requires taking into
  account new issues
• Human computer interaction
• Ease of use
• Reliability
• Sensible applications

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Invasive vs. noninvasive techniques

• Multi-electrode grids implanted in cortex
• Epi- or sub-dural implantation
• Surface EEG
• Non electrical signal (MEG, fMRI, NIRS, )

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Integration with assistive technologies

• need for "BCI device
• integration of the BCI device as a control into
  standard
• domotic and robotic systems
• optimization of the BCI interface (to user and to
  caregiver generalization and simplification )

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BCI-operated robot
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BCI-operated Environmental control
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Standardization
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Non-invasive cortical estimation of brain activity
Scalp EEG
Linear inverse estimates within a RoI are
collapsed (mean)
M1 Hand area RoI
Virtual electrode
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Role of technical standards in the development of
BCI systems

• helpful to foster involvement of companies into
  the field
• important to promote cooperation among research
  groups
• Topics for standardization
• system architecture
• relationship with existing human-computer devices
• training procedures
• signal processing techniques
• indices of performance
• communication protocols with external devices

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Advantage of Standards

• Improved interoperability of components
• Lowers need for expertise
• Facilitates technology diffusion
• Facilitates performance comparison
• FDA/CE certification is cheaper
• Helps to solve legal disputes

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Standardization of software

• Decision making tool for operators
• Documentation and reference for good practice

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Pseudo-BCI applications

• Monitoring
• Biofeedback
• Detection of psychological states
• EEG-EMG-EOG integration

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Conclusions

• BCI field is out of the demonstrations phase and
  is ready for clinical applications need for
  more intense multidisciplinary cooperation
• Any new BCI technology should be focused on
  improving the quality of life of the end user
• Many technologies still do not meet the
  requirements of particular BCI applications
• The BCI community needsa technology
  standardization committee
• BCI systems that can improve peoples lives are
  within reach