title: Cortical effects of user training in a motor imagery based brain-computer interface measured by fNIRS and EEG.
abstract: The present study aims to gain insights into the effects of training with a motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) on activation patterns of the sensorimotor cortex. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate long-term training effects across 10 sessions using a 2-class (right hand and feet) MI-based BCI in fifteen subjects. In the course of the training a significant enhancement of activation pattern emerges, represented by an [oxy-Hb] increase in fNIRS and a stronger event-related desynchronization in the upper β-frequency band in the EEG. These effects were only visible in participants with relatively low BCI performance (mean accuracy ≤ 70%). We found that training with an MI-based BCI affects cortical activation patterns especially in users with low BCI performance. Our results may serve as a valuable contribution to the field of BCI research and provide information about the effects that training with an MI-based BCI has on cortical activation patterns. This might be useful for clinical applications of BCI which aim at promoting and guiding neuroplasticity.
authors: Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: vera.kaiser@tugraz.at.
authors: Vera
authors: V
authors: Kaiser
authors: Günther
authors: G
authors: Bauernfeind
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Kreilinger
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Kaufmann
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Kübler
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Neuper
authors: Gernot R
authors: GR
authors: Müller-Putz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BCI training; Brain–computer interface (BCI); Cortical training effects; Electroencephalography (EEG); Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS); Motor imagery (MI)