title: Commanding a robotic wheelchair with a high-frequency steady-state visual evoked potential based brain-computer interface.
abstract: This work presents a brain-computer interface (BCI) used to operate a robotic wheelchair. The experiments were performed on 15 subjects (13 of them healthy). The BCI is based on steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEP) and the stimuli flickering are performed at high frequency (37, 38, 39 and 40 Hz). This high frequency stimulation scheme can reduce or even eliminate visual fatigue, allowing the user to achieve a stable performance for long term BCI operation. The BCI system uses power-spectral density analysis associated to three bipolar electroencephalographic channels. As the results show, 2 subjects were reported as SSVEP-BCI illiterates (not able to use the BCI), and, consequently, 13 subjects (12 of them healthy) could navigate the wheelchair in a room with obstacles arranged in four distinct configurations. Volunteers expressed neither discomfort nor fatigue due to flickering stimulation. A transmission rate of up to 72.5 bits/min was obtained, with an average of 44.6 bits/min in four trials. These results show that people could effectively navigate a robotic wheelchair using a SSVEP-based BCI with high frequency flickering stimulation.
authors: Gabinete de Tecnología Médica (GATEME), Universidad Nacional de San Juan (UNSJ), Argentina. pdiez@gateme.unsj.edu.ar
authors: Pablo F
authors: PF
authors: Diez
authors: Sandra M
authors: SM
authors: Torres Müller
authors: Vicente A
authors: VA
authors: Mut
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Laciar
authors: Enrique
authors: E
authors: Avila
authors: Teodiano Freire
authors: TF
authors: Bastos-Filho
authors: Mário
authors: M
authors: Sarcinelli-Filho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000295:instrumentation; D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014796:Visual Perception; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult