Paradigm and attentional manipulations to improve P300-based BCI

描述（由申请人提供）：严重的运动障碍，如肌萎缩性侧索硬化症（ALS）、脑干中风、脑瘫和脊髓损伤，减少或消除神经肌肉控制，并剥夺受影响患者的沟通和控制，这对他们的身心健康至关重要。基于脑电图的无创脑机接口（bci）的最新进展为这些患者带来了其他辅助设备无法提供的沟通和控制环境的新希望。脑机接口在其他设备失败的地方取得了成功，因为它们使用的控制技术直接依赖于神经元信号，而不需要任何神经肌肉控制。尽管这些设备带来了希望，但仍有必要在几个领域进行改进，以便将技术大规模地转化为目标人群。目前的提案将解决三个因素，可以显著提高基于p300的BCI性能。首先，我们将把矩阵大小从传统的6x6调整为8x9矩阵。根据初步数据，我们预计矩阵的大小会增加P300响应的幅度，从而使系统更加准确。其次，我们将使用正念冥想和诱导（MMI）来增加用户的注意力焦点。通过增加注意力控制，我们预计MMI也会增加P300振幅，减少与BCI使用相关的反应延迟，并减少破坏BCI性能的眼球运动（这将通过眼动追踪硬件进行监测）。第三，我们将测试改进后的标准系统对一种新的脑机接口表示方法（称为棋盘范式（CBP））的性能。标准范式以行和列的形式呈现刺激组（即行/列范式或RCP），而CBP则以棋盘式布局呈现准随机的刺激组。我们希望MMI和CBP能减轻注意力被转移到非目标上的影响，以及连续的目标闪烁。我们还假设受试者更喜欢CBP而不是RCP。总的来说，这些改进有可能增加BCI系统的健壮性和可用性，这对那些没有其他通信手段的人来说尤其重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Severe motor disabilities such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brainstem stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury reduce or eliminate neuromuscular control and deprive affected patients of communication and control that is vital to their mental and physical health. Recent advances in noninvasive EEG-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have given these patients new hope for communication and control of their environment that is not provided by other assistive devices. BCIs succeed where other devices fail because they use a control technology that depends directly on neuronal signals without any requirement for neuromuscular control. Despite the promise provided by these devices improvements in several areas are necessary to translate the technology to the target population on a large scale. The current proposal will address three factors that can significantly improve P300-based BCI performance. First, we will manipulate matrix size from the traditional 6x6 to an 8x9 matrix. Based on preliminary data, we expect matrix size to increase amplitude of the P300 response, thereby making the system more accurate. Second, we will use mindfulness meditation and induction (MMI) to increase users' attentional focus. Via increases in attentional control, we expect that MMI will also increase P300 amplitude, decrease response latencies associated with BCI use, and reduce eye movements from the target that undermine BCI performance (which will be monitored via eye tracking hardware).Third, we will test the performance of the improved standard system to a novel BCI presentation method, referred to as the checkerboard paradigm (CBP). Whereas the standard paradigm presents groups of stimuli arranged as rows and columns (i.e., the row/column paradigm or the RCP), the CBP presents quasi-random groups of stimuli derived from a checkerboard style layout. We expect that the MMI and CBP will mitigate the effects of attention being diverted to non-targets, and consecutive target flashes. We also hypothesize that the subjects will prefer the CBP over the RCP. Collectively, these improvements offer the potential to increase the robustness and usability of the BCI system, which is particularly important for those without other means of communication. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This purpose of this research proposal is to advance performance and usability of brain- computer interface (BCI) technology. BCIs use the electroencephalogram (EEG) instead of normal muscular output pathways for communication. Because they do not depend on neuromuscular control, BCIs provide a means of communication for people with severe neuromuscular disabilities such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), which ultimately render these people locked-in to their bodies. Thus, BCIs can restore the ability to communicate and interact with others.