An MEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI).

TitleAn MEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI).
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsMellinger, J, Schalk, G, Braun, C, Preissl, H, Rosenstiel, W, Birbaumer, N, Kübler, A
JournalNeuroimage
Volume36
Issue3
Pagination581-93
Date Published07/2007
ISSN1053-8119
KeywordsAdult, Algorithms, Artifacts, Brain, Electroencephalography, Electromagnetic Fields, Electromyography, Feedback, Female, Foot, Hand, Head Movements, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetoencephalography, Male, Movement, Principal Component Analysis, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, User-Computer Interface
Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow for communicating intentions by mere brain activity, not involving muscles. Thus, BCIs may offer patients who have lost all voluntary muscle control the only possible way to communicate. Many recent studies have demonstrated that BCIs based on electroencephalography(EEG) can allow healthy and severely paralyzed individuals to communicate. While this approach is safe and inexpensive, communication is slow. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides signals with higher spatiotemporal resolution than EEG and could thus be used to explore whether these improved signal properties translate into increased BCI communication speed. In this study, we investigated the utility of an MEG-based BCI that uses voluntary amplitude modulation of sensorimotor mu and beta rhythms. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, we present a simple spatial filtering method that takes the geometric properties of signal propagation in MEG into account, and we present methods that can process artifacts specifically encountered in an MEG-based BCI. Exemplarily, six participants were successfully trained to communicate binary decisions by imagery of limb movements using a feedback paradigm. Participants achieved significant mu rhythm self control within 32 min of feedback training. For a subgroup of three participants, we localized the origin of the amplitude modulated signal to the motor cortex. Our results suggest that an MEG-based BCI is feasible and efficient in terms of user training.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17475511
DOI10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.03.019
Alternate JournalNeuroimage
PubMed ID17475511
PubMed Central IDPMC2017111

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