A review of EEG-based brain-computer interfaces as access pathways for individuals with severe disabilities.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method for measuring brain activity and is a strong candidate for brain-computer interface (BCI) development. While BCIs can be used as a means of communication for individuals with severe disabilities, the majority of existing studies have reported BCI evaluations by able-bodied individuals. Considering the many differences in body functions and usage scenarios between individuals with disabilities and able-bodied individuals, involvement of the target population in BCI evaluation is necessary. In this review, 39 studies reporting EEG-oriented BCI assessment by individuals with disabilities were identified in the past decade. With respect to participant populations, a need for assessing BCI performance for the pediatric population with severe disabilities was identified as an important future direction. Acquiring a reliable communication pathway during early stages of development is crucial in avoiding learned helplessness in pediatric-onset disabilities. With respect to evaluation, augmenting traditional measures of system performance with those relating to contextual factors was recommended for realizing user-centered designs appropriate for integration in real-life. Considering indicators of user state and developing more effective training paradigms are recommended for future studies of BCI involving individuals with disabilities.
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Saba
S
Moghimi
Azadeh
A
Kushki
Anne Marie
AM
Guerguerian
Tom
T
Chau
D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans