EEG-based Recognition of Covert Attentional Shifts

Attentional shifts precede most of the perceptual processes, and therefore their recognition may constitute an interesting process for both the study of human perception as well as the design of EEG-based Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI). Several studies have focused on EEG modulations of spatial attention, pointing out to changes in both Alpha and Gamma bands (Thut et al. 2006 J. Neurosci 26:9494; Tallon-Baudry and Bertrand 1999 T Cogn Sci 3:151; Jensen et al. 2007 TINS 30:317). This work aims at further characterization of EEG correlates of attention shifts to evaluate their potential use in BCI applications. We recorded 32-channel scalp EEG while subjects covertly shift their attention towards one out of several spatial targets. Consistently with previous studies, characterization of the spatio-temporal patterns using time-frequency analysis (Morlet wavelet transformation), shows main modulations in the alpha and gamma frequency bands. Moreover, it is also shown that these modulations are characterized by intermittent episodes of activity (Palix et al. 2006 Perception 25:234). Furthermore, we assess the EEG-based recognition of spatial attention -time and target location of the shift- using a machine learning approach based on the detection of informative, episodic activity. The proposed approach is based on the hypothesis that recognition may be improved by identifying the moments where the underlying neural phenomena is more salient (e. g. the appearance of episodic oscillations related to attentional shifts), and performing the classification based mainly -if not exclusively- on the activity during these periods. Our results show accurate recognition of attentional shifts (>75%) based on the scalp EEG signal. Moreover, the proposed approach allow us to efficiently detect endogenous processes loosely synchronized to external events. These results provides evidence supporting the feasibility of using attentional processes in Brain-Computer Interfaces.