Real-time control of a video game with a direct brain--computer interface.
Mason and Birch have developed a direct brain-computer interface for intermittent control of devices such as environmental control systems and neuroprotheses. This EEG-based brain switch, named the LF-ASD, has been used in several off-line studies, but little is known about its usability with real-world devices and computer applications. In this study, able-bodied individuals and people with high-level spinal injury used the LF-ASD brain switch to control a video game in real time. Both subject groups demonstrated switch activations varying from 30% to 78% and false-positive rates in the range of 0.5% to 2.2% over three 1-hour test sessions. These levels correspond to switch classification accuracies greater than 94% for all subjects. The results suggest that subjects with spinal cord injuries can operate the brain switch to the same ability as able-bodied subjects in a real-time control environment. These results support the findings of previous studies.
Mason
Steven G
SG
Neil Squire Foundation, Burnaby, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. smason@telus.net
Bohringer
Regula
R
Borisoff
Jaimie F
JF
Birch
Gary E
GE
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003199:Computer Systems; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games