Workshop on direct brain/computer interface & control Febo Cincotti Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS Brussels, August 2, 2006

Psychological Effort (Intention) Modification of Brain Signals Signal Features Classification Of Intent Increase of performance appropriate feature extraction appropriate feedback strategy user training computer training Environment BCI: logical scheme (yet another!)

Multiple aims  Study of brain functions  Rehabilitation through substitution through restoration  Enhancement of brain-environment pathways  “Cyborg-like” applications

Workshop IV: Technology Topic 1: Technical Requirements4 Technical Requirements depend on the “User” 1.End user 2.Clinical researchers, Neuroscientists 3.Technical operators, Therapists 4.Gamers, entertainers Cost/benefit of requirements vary over User Level

Workshop IV: Technology Topic 1: Technical Requirements5 Technical Requirements  Targeting to the disabled-user, others will be adequately addressed or easily adapted.  Cost/benefit of requirements vary over User Level

Workshop IV: Technology Topic 1: Technical Requirements6 Disability Level and Application  Communication  Environmental control  Robotics / Mobility devices  Neuroprosthetics

Effectiveness-application- satisfaction chart

Multiple points of view  Target users: Researchers (e.g., clinical researchers, neuroscientists, signal processing experts, etc.); Technical operators (e.g., caregivers, therapists who are in charge of training someone on BCI operation); End-users (e.g., people with disabilities who rely on the system for communication) Casual end-users (e.g., those who use a BCI as an alternative input for entertainment devices)  Disciplines involved in research Engineering Clinical... Psychological Neuroscience

Clinical applications of BCI are not…  … just application of potentially working technologies to a new group of experimental subjects.  Working with patients requires taking into account new issues Human computer interaction Ease of use Reliability Sensible applications …

Invasive vs. noninvasive techniques  Multi-electrode grids implanted in cortex  Epi- or sub-dural implantation  Surface EEG  Non electrical signal (MEG, fMRI, NIRS, …)

Integration with assistive technologies  need for "BCI device“  integration of the BCI device as a control into standard  domotic and robotic systems  optimization of the BCI interface (to user and to caregiver: generalization and simplification )

BCI-operated robot

BCI-operated Environmental control

Standardization

M1 Hand area RoI Linear inverse estimates within a RoI are collapsed (mean) Scalp EEG “Virtual” electrode Non-invasive cortical estimation of brain activity

Role of technical standards in the development of BCI systems  helpful to foster involvement of companies into the field  important to promote cooperation among research groups  Topics for standardization: system architecture relationship with existing human-computer devices training procedures signal processing techniques indices of performance communication protocols with external devices

Advantage of Standards  Improved interoperability of components Lowers need for expertise Facilitates technology diffusion Facilitates performance comparison  FDA/CE certification is cheaper  Helps to solve legal disputes

Standardization of software  Decision making tool for operators  Documentation and reference for “good practice”

Pseudo-BCI applications  Monitoring  Biofeedback  Detection of psychological states  EEG-EMG-EOG integration

Conclusions  BCI field is out of the demonstrations phase and is ready for clinical applications – need for more intense multidisciplinary cooperation  Any new BCI technology should be focused on improving the quality of life of the end user  Many technologies still do not meet the requirements of particular BCI applications  The BCI community needs a technology standardization committee  BCI systems that can improve people’s lives are within reach