B rain- C omputer I Luigi Bianchi Università di Roma “Tor Vergata” Luigi Bianchi Università di Roma “Tor Vergata”

BCIcommunication system “A Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a communication system that does not depend on the brain normal output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles.” Definition and Essential Features of a Brain–Computer Interface

BCIcommunication system useEEG single-unit activity control “A Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a communication system that does not depend on the brain normal output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles.” “Current BCIs use electroencephalographic (EEG) activity recorded at the scalp or single-unit activity recorded from within cortex to control cursor movement, select letters or icons, or operate a neuroprosthesis.” Definition and Essential Features of a Brain–Computer Interface

BCIcommunication system useEEG single-unit activity control translation algorithm “A Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a communication system that does not depend on the brain normal output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles.” “Current BCIs use electroencephalographic (EEG) activity recorded at the scalp or single-unit activity recorded from within cortex to control cursor movement, select letters or icons, or operate a neuroprosthesis.” “The central element in each BCI is a translation algorithm that converts electrophysiological input from the user into output that controls external devices.” (Wolpaw et al. 2000) Definition and Essential Features of a Brain–Computer Interface

Signal Acquisition Scalp (EEG) Scalp (EEG) Cortical surface Cortical surface Intracortical Intracortical fMRI fMRI NIRS NIRS Scalp (MEG) Scalp (MEG)

Functional Model S.G. Mason, M.M. Moore Jackson, G.E. Birch, (2005) “A general framework for Characterizing Studies of Brain Interface Technology,” Ann. Biomed. Eng. Classifier Extraction of the features of interest and translation into Logical Symbols (LSs) Translation of LSs into Semantic Symbols (SSs) by means of encoding strategies Mapping of SSs into commands towards output devices Acquisition Stage EEG, ECoG, fMRI Acquisition Stage EEG, ECoG, fMRI

BCI RESEARCH AT “TOR VERGATA” UNIVERSITY, ROME PART II PART II – Our model – New metric – BF++ Toys (BCI software tools) – NPX Lab – Analises – Protocols From model to methods: on the Evaluation and the Optimization of Brain-Computer Interface Systems

BCI: not just for patients – Explore Brain Function – Brain Monitoring – Learning process – Awakeness – …. – Entertrainment – Gaming – Neuromarketing – Neuropolitics – … – Explore Brain Function – Brain Monitoring – Learning process – Awakeness – …. – Entertrainment – Gaming – Neuromarketing – Neuropolitics – …

Not just for patients Astronauts could benefit from BCI for: – Communication – Devices Control – Monitoring Astronauts could benefit from BCI for: – Communication – Devices Control – Monitoring DCMC ASI Project: “Disturbi del Controllo Motorio e Cardio Respiratorio” Centro di Bio-Medicina Spaziale

How to improve BCIs? feedback

Conclusions BCI is a multisciplinary research field (neuroscience, engineering, psychology, computer science, rehabilitation, etc…) Many research areas are still unexplored (e.g. Multimodal recording, stimulation, feedback) Not just an Assistive Device for locked-in patients (e.g. astronauts, gamers, etc..) It can be used to investigate Brain Function There are many ways to improve BCIs BCI is a multisciplinary research field (neuroscience, engineering, psychology, computer science, rehabilitation, etc…) Many research areas are still unexplored (e.g. Multimodal recording, stimulation, feedback) Not just an Assistive Device for locked-in patients (e.g. astronauts, gamers, etc..) It can be used to investigate Brain Function There are many ways to improve BCIs

Acknowledgments Lucia Rita Quitadamo Girolamo Garreffa Manuel Abbafati Stefano Seri Lucia Rita Quitadamo Girolamo Garreffa Manuel Abbafati Stefano Seri