Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface for Virtual Object Control

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that provides a separate output pathway for neurological signals whereby they can be interpreted to determine the user's intended cognitive action. Utilizing EEG-based sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) generated in the motor cortex has allowed subjects to control virtual computer cursors in up to three dimensions by simply imagining the movement of a specified body part. Nevertheless, the scalp EEG signals are smeared by the volume conduction effect and measurement noise. The overall hypothesis of this study is that EEG-based virtual object control may help reveal optimal motor imagination tasks best used in a BCI.

The PI's hypotheses include: (1) The use of advanced signal processing techniques will better reveal characteristics of EEG signals that represent the underlying motor cognitive function of the subject; (2) BCI systems based on SMR generated using motor imaginations will allow effective control of a virtual object in real time; (3) EEG imaging techniques will provide insight into the areas of cortical activation during a motor imagery task that can be utilized to increase the spatial resolution of non-invasive BCI's.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Individuality

Detailed Description

The goal of the present study is to explore advanced signal processing techniques that will better reveal characteristics of EEG signals that represent the underlying motor cognitive function of the subject, and conduct experiments to better control an virtual object on the computer screen including a cursor or a helicopter.

The primary objective of this study is to test the above hypotheses (1) and (2) in a healthy subject population.This study will determine the ability of subjects with full cognitive function to control a non-invasive brain-computer interface by imagining a particular movement. Using non-invasive methods, we will investigate the neural processes that occur during the motor imagination tasks associated with controlling a virtual object. Using a variety of motor imaginations, we will determine which tasks are best used for BCI control by quantitative means of BCI performance and neurological dynamic system analysis.

Subjects for this study will be healthy, English speaking adult volunteers (18-64 years old) with no history of mental illness, neurological deficit, or traumatic brain injury.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 205

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Minnesota
    • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
      • Nils Hasselmo Hall at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 64 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Students and workers at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities campus

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the age of 18 and 64

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of traumatic brain injury/brain lesion, neurological deficit or neurodegenerative disorder

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
No treatment; Subjects in this study will receive no treatment and rather will only be trained in using the motor imagination-based BCI system

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Classification accuracy (%) and Cohen's Kappa Coefficient (unit-less) will be measured by discriminating features within the EEG time courses of different motor imagery tasks.	two years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Minnesota
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bin He, PhD, University of Minnesota

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: March 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 8, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): January 8, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 18, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): February 26, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 18, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2018
• Last Verified: January 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 1312M46726

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED