%0 Journal Article %J J Neural Eng %D 2011 %T Using the electrocorticographic speech network to control a brain-computer interface in humans. %A Leuthardt, E C %A Charles M Gaona %A Sharma, Mohit %A Szrama, Nicholas %A Roland, Jarod %A Zachary V. Freudenberg %A Solisb, Jamie %A Breshears, Jonathan %A Gerwin Schalk %K Adult %K Brain %K Brain Mapping %K Computer Peripherals %K Electroencephalography %K Evoked Potentials %K Feedback, Physiological %K Female %K Humans %K Imagination %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Nerve Net %K Speech Production Measurement %K User-Computer Interface %X

Electrocorticography (ECoG) has emerged as a new signal platform for brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. Classically, the cortical physiology that has been commonly investigated and utilized for device control in humans has been brain signals from the sensorimotor cortex. Hence, it was unknown whether other neurophysiological substrates, such as the speech network, could be used to further improve on or complement existing motor-based control paradigms. We demonstrate here for the first time that ECoG signals associated with different overt and imagined phoneme articulation can enable invasively monitored human patients to control a one-dimensional computer cursor rapidly and accurately. This phonetic content was distinguishable within higher gamma frequency oscillations and enabled users to achieve final target accuracies between 68% and 91% within 15 min. Additionally, one of the patients achieved robust control using recordings from a microarray consisting of 1 mm spaced microwires. These findings suggest that the cortical network associated with speech could provide an additional cognitive and physiologic substrate for BCI operation and that these signals can be acquired from a cortical array that is small and minimally invasive.

%B J Neural Eng %V 8 %P 036004 %8 06/2011 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21471638 %N 3 %R 10.1088/1741-2560/8/3/036004 %0 Journal Article %J IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng %D 2006 %T ECoG factors underlying multimodal control of a brain-computer interface. %A Adam J Wilson %A Felton, Elizabeth A %A Garell, P Charles %A Gerwin Schalk %A Williams, Justin C %K Adult %K Brain Mapping %K Cerebral Cortex %K Communication Aids for Disabled %K Computer Peripherals %K Evoked Potentials %K Female %K Humans %K Imagination %K Male %K Man-Machine Systems %K Neuromuscular Diseases %K Systems Integration %K User-Computer Interface %K Volition %X

Most current brain-computer interface (BCI) systems for humans use electroencephalographic activity recorded from the scalp, and may be limited in many ways. Electrocorticography (ECoG) is believed to be a minimally-invasive alternative to electroencephalogram (EEG) for BCI systems, yielding superior signal characteristics that could allow rapid user training and faster communication rates. In addition, our preliminary results suggest that brain regions other than the sensorimotor cortex, such as auditory cortex, may be trained to control a BCI system using similar methods as those used to train motor regions of the brain. This could prove to be vital for users who have neurological disease, head trauma, or other conditions precluding the use of sensorimotor cortex for BCI control.

%B IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng %V 14 %P 246-50 %8 06/2006 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16792305 %N 2 %R 10.1109/TNSRE.2006.875570 %0 Journal Article %J IEEE Trans Biomed Eng %D 2004 %T BCI2000: a general-purpose brain-computer interface (BCI) system. %A Gerwin Schalk %A Dennis J. McFarland %A Hinterberger, T. %A Niels Birbaumer %A Jonathan Wolpaw %K Algorithms %K Brain %K Cognition %K Communication Aids for Disabled %K Computer Peripherals %K Electroencephalography %K Equipment Design %K Equipment Failure Analysis %K Evoked Potentials %K Humans %K Systems Integration %K User-Computer Interface %X Many laboratories have begun to develop brain-computer interface (BCI) systems that provide communication and control capabilities to people with severe motor disabilities. Further progress and realization of practical applications depends on systematic evaluations and comparisons of different brain signals, recording methods, processing algorithms, output formats, and operating protocols. However, the typical BCI system is designed specifically for one particular BCI method and is, therefore, not suited to the systematic studies that are essential for continued progress. In response to this problem, we have developed a documented general-purpose BCI research and development platform called BCI2000. BCI2000 can incorporate alone or in combination any brain signals, signal processing methods, output devices, and operating protocols. This report is intended to describe to investigators, biomedical engineers, and computer scientists the concepts that the BC12000 system is based upon and gives examples of successful BCI implementations using this system. To date, we have used BCI2000 to create BCI systems for a variety of brain signals, processing methods, and applications. The data show that these systems function well in online operation and that BCI2000 satisfies the stringent real-time requirements of BCI systems. By substantially reducing labor and cost, BCI2000 facilitates the implementation of different BCI systems and other psychophysiological experiments. It is available with full documentation and free of charge for research or educational purposes and is currently being used in a variety of studies by many research groups. %B IEEE Trans Biomed Eng %V 51 %P 1034-43 %8 06/2004 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1109/TBME.2004.827072 %0 Journal Article %J J Neural Eng %D 2004 %T A brain-computer interface using electrocorticographic signals in humans. %A Leuthardt, E C %A Gerwin Schalk %A Jonathan Wolpaw %A Ojemann, J G %A Moran, D %K Adult %K Brain %K Communication Aids for Disabled %K Computer Peripherals %K Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted %K Electrodes, Implanted %K Electroencephalography %K Evoked Potentials %K Female %K Humans %K Imagination %K Male %K Movement Disorders %K User-Computer Interface %X

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable users to control devices with electroencephalographic (EEG) activity from the scalp or with single-neuron activity from within the brain. Both methods have disadvantages: EEG has limited resolution and requires extensive training, while single-neuron recording entails significant clinical risks and has limited stability. We demonstrate here for the first time that electrocorticographic (ECoG) activity recorded from the surface of the brain can enable users to control a one-dimensional computer cursor rapidly and accurately. We first identified ECoG signals that were associated with different types of motor and speech imagery. Over brief training periods of 3-24 min, four patients then used these signals to master closed-loop control and to achieve success rates of 74-100% in a one-dimensional binary task. In additional open-loop experiments, we found that ECoG signals at frequencies up to 180 Hz encoded substantial information about the direction of two-dimensional joystick movements. Our results suggest that an ECoG-based BCI could provide for people with severe motor disabilities a non-muscular communication and control option that is more powerful than EEG-based BCIs and is potentially more stable and less traumatic than BCIs that use electrodes penetrating the brain.

%B J Neural Eng %V 1 %P 63-71 %8 06/2004 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15876624 %N 2 %R 10.1088/1741-2560/1/2/001