Work

Yes or No? – Binary Brain-based Communicationutilizing Motor Imagery and Fnirs

Year: 2017

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Past research into motor-independentcommunication for the severely disabled has mainlyfocused on developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)implementing neuroelectric signals. More recently, alsohemodynamic brain signals have been explored for BCIpurposes. Here, we introduce a novel, straightforward,and easy-to-implement yes/no communication paradigmrelying on mental imagery (mental drawing) andportable functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Tohemodynamically encode answers to binary questions,participants either performed mental drawing (forencoding “yes”) or did not change their mental state (forencoding “no”). Participants’ answers were decodedoffline using univariate and multivariate statistics. Inapproximately half of the participants, accuraciesreached 70% or higher, which is considered a sufficientperformance for binary communication BCIs. As theproposed communication technique requires relativelylittle cognitive capabilities, it might not only serve as auseful communication means but also as a diagnostictool for detecting preserved conscious awareness innon-responsive patients.

Source: JuSER (Forschungszentrum Jülich)