Gary Nelson Garcia Molina

A survey of stimulation methods used in SSVEP-based BCIs

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems based on the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) provide higher information throughput and require shorter training than BCI systems using other brain signals. To elicit an SSVEP, a repetitive visual stimulus (RVS) has to be presented to the user. The RVS can be rendered on a computer screen by alternating graphical patterns, or with external light sources able to emit modulated light. The properties of an RVS (e.g., frequency, color) depend on the rendering device and influence the SSVEP characteristics. This affects the BCI information throughput and the levels of user safety and comfort. Literature on SSVEP-based BCIs does not generally provide reasons for the selection of the used rendering devices or RVS properties. In this paper, we review the literature on SSVEP-based BCIs and comprehensively report on the different RVS choices in terms of rendering devices, properties, and their potential influence on BCI performance, user safety and comfort.

Binary Biometrics: An Analytic Framework to Estimate the Performance Curves Under Gaussian Assumption

In recent years, the protection of biometric data has gained increased interest from the scientific community. Methods such as the fuzzy commitment scheme, helper-data system, fuzzy extractors, fuzzy vault, and cancelable biometrics have been proposed for protecting biometric data. Most of these methods use cryptographic primitives or error-correcting codes (ECCs) and use a binary representation of the real-valued biometric data. Hence, the difference between two biometric samples is given by the Hamming distance (HD) or bit errors between the binary vectors obtained from the enrollment and verification phases, respectively. If the HD is smaller (larger) than the decision threshold, then the subject is accepted (rejected) as genuine. Because of the use of ECCs, this decision threshold is limited to the maximum error-correcting capacity of the code, consequently limiting the false rejection rate (FRR) and false acceptance rate tradeoff. A method to improve the FRR consists of using multiple biometric samples in either the enrollment or verification phase. The noise is suppressed, hence reducing the number of bit errors and decreasing the HD. In practice, the number of samples is empirically chosen without fully considering its fundamental impact. In this paper, we present a Gaussian analytical framework for estimating the performance of a binary biometric system given the number of samples being used in the enrollment and the verification phase. The error-detection tradeoff curve that combines the false acceptance and false rejection rates is estimated to assess the system performance. The analytic expressions are validated using the Face Recognition Grand Challenge v2 and Fingerprint Verification Competition 2000 biometric databases.

Spatial filters to detect steady-state visual evoked potentials elicited by high frequency stimulation: BCI application.

Abstract Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) require minimal user training and can offer higher information throughput compared to other BCI modalities. We focused on SSVEPs elicited by high-frequency stimuli (>30 Hz) because they cause minimal fatigue/annoyance and reduce the risk of inducing photoepileptic seizures. This paper presents an approach that analyzes electroencephalographic activity to automatically obtain the optimum spatial filter for detecting the SSVEP at a given stimulation frequency from a short signal where the stimulation is presented at intermittent periods interspersed with breaks. A vector space generated by sinusoidal signals at the stimulation frequency and harmonics is defined. The spatial filter coefficients result from maximizing the ratio between the energy of the spatially filtered signal and that of its orthogonal component with regard to the vector space. The spatial filters are customized for each BCI user through a short calibration procedure taking into account individual specificity. Our experiments on six subjects applying the spatial filters resulted in an average transfer rate ranging from 20.9 to 22.7 bits/min.

Emotional brain-computer interfaces

Research in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) has significantly increased during the last few years. In addition to their initial role as assisting devices for the physically challenged, BCIs are now proposed for a wider range of applications. As in any HCI application, BCIs can also benefit from adapting their operation to the emotional state of the user. BCIs have the advantage of having access to brain activity which can provide significant insight into the users emotional state. This information can be utilized in two manners. 1) Knowledge of the influence of the emotional state on brain activity patterns can allow the BCI to adapt its recognition algorithms, so that the intention of the user is still correctly interpreted in spite of signal deviations induced by the subjects emotional state. 2) The ability to recognize emotions can be used in BCIs to provide the user with more natural ways of controlling the BCI through affective modulation. Thus, controlling a BCI by recollecting a pleasant memory can be possible and can potentially lead to higher information transfer rates. These two approaches of emotion utilization in BCI are elaborated in detail in this paper in the framework of non-invasive EEG based BCIs.

Phase synchrony analysis for SSVEP-based BCIs

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) based on Steady State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) can provide higher throughput than other BCI modalities. For the sake of safety and comfort, the frequencies of the stimulus should be higher than 30 Hz. However, only a limited number of these frequencies can elicit SSVEPs that are strong enough for BCI purposes. In order to increase the number of available stimuli, the SSVEP phase can be taken into account. In this study, we used phase synchrony analysis to extract the phase difference between SSVEP and stimuli as a feature to identify a subjects intention. This analysis can mitigate the adverse effect brought by the phase deviation that may occur in the stimuli. Furthermore, the classification accuracy when using a single lead signal (Oz-Cz) is compared to a spatial filtered signal. The result shows that the phase synchrony analysis can effectively extract the phase difference and that spatial filtering can significantly increase the classification accuracy.

BCI adaptation using incremental-SVM learning

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems allow the user to interact with a computer by merely thinking. Successful BCI operation depends on the continuous adaptation of the system to the user. This paper presents an implementation of this adaptation using incremental support vector machines (SVM). This approach is tested on three subjects and three types of mental activities across ten sessions. The results show that the continuous adaptation of the BCI to the users brain activity brings clear advantages over a non-adapting approach.