title: Combined optimization of spatial and temporal filters for improving brain-computer interfacing.
abstract: Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems create a novel communication channel from the brain to an output device by bypassing conventional motor output pathways of nerves and muscles. Therefore they could provide a new communication and control option for paralyzed patients. Modern BCI technology is essentially based on techniques for the classification of single-trial brain signals. Here we present a novel technique that allows the simultaneous optimization of a spatial and a spectral filter enhancing discriminability rates of multichannel EEG single-trials. The evaluation of 60 experiments involving 22 different subjects demonstrates the significant superiority of the proposed algorithm over to its classical counterpart: the median classification error rate was decreased by 11%. Apart from the enhanced classification, the spatial and/or the spectral filter that are determined by the algorithm can also be used for further analysis of the data, e.g., for source localization of the respective brain rhythms.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer FIRST.IDA, Kekuléstr. 7, 12 489 Berlin, Germany. guido.dornhege@first.fraunhofer.de
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dornhege
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blankertz
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krauledat
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Losch
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Curio
authors.forename: Klaus-Robert
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014584:User-Computer Interface