Workshop on direct brain/computer interface & control

Febo CincottiFondazione Santa Lucia IRCCSBrussels, August 2, 2006

PsychologicalEffort

(Intention)

Modification ofBrain Signals

Signal Features

ClassificationOf Intent

Increase of Increase of performanceperformance

appropriate feature extraction

appropriate feedback strategy

user

train

ing

com

pu

ter

train

ing

Environment

BCI: logical scheme (yet another!)

Multiple aims

Study of brain functions Rehabilitation

through substitution through restoration

Enhancement of brain-environment pathways

“Cyborg-like” applications

Workshop IV: Technology

Topic 1: Technical Requirements 4

Technical Requirements depend on the “User”

1. End user

2. Clinical researchers, Neuroscientists

3. Technical operators, Therapists

4. Gamers, entertainers

Cost/benefit of requirements vary over User Level

Workshop IV: Technology

Topic 1: Technical Requirements 6

Disability Level and Application

Communication

Environmental control

Robotics / Mobility devices

Neuroprosthetics

Effectiveness-application-satisfaction chart

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

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 …

Invasive vs. noninvasive techniques

Multi-electrode grids implanted in cortex

Epi- or sub-dural implantation Surface EEG Non electrical signal (MEG, fMRI, NIRS,

…)

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 )

BCI-operated robot

BCI-operated Environmental control

Standardization

M1 Hand area RoI

Linear inverse estimates within a RoI are collapsed (mean)

Scalp EEG

“Virtual” electrode

Non-invasive cortical estimation of brain activity

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

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

Standardization of software Decision making

tool for operators

Documentation and reference for “good practice”

Pseudo-BCI applications

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

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 people’s lives are within reach