Publication

Freeing the visual channel by exploiting vibrotactile BCI feedback

José del Rocio Millán Ruiz, Robert Leeb
2013
Conference Papers

Abstract

Controlling a brain-actuated device requires the participant to look at and to split his attention between the interaction of the device with its environment and the status information of the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). Such parallel visual tasks are partly contradictory, with the goal of achieving a good and natural device control. Is there a possibility to free the visual channel from one of these tasks? To address this, a stimulation system based on 6 coin-motors is developed, which provides a spatially continuous tactile illusion as BCI feedback, so that the visual channel can be devoted to the device. Several experiments are conducted in this work, to optimize the tactile illusion patterns and to investigate the influence on the electroencephalogram (EEG). Finally, 6 healthy BCI participants compare visual with tactile feedback in online BCI recordings. The developed stimulator can be used without interfering with the EEG. All subjects are able to perceive this type of tactile feedback well, and no statistical degradation in the online BCI performance could be identified between visual and tactile feedback.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/f57ad5e9-cc4d-492b-8167-b83c62602060

About this result

This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.

José del Rocio Millán Ruiz, Robert Leeb
2013
Conference Papers

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/f57ad5e9-cc4d-492b-8167-b83c62602060

About this result

Related concepts (16)

Brain–computer interface

A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a brain–machine interface (BMI) or smartbrain, is a direct communication pathway between the brain's electrical activity and an external device, most commonly a computer or robotic limb. BCIs are often directed at researching, mapping, assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. They are often conceptualized as a human–machine interface that skips the intermediary component of the physical movement of body parts, although they also raise the possibility of the erasure of the discreteness of brain and machine.

Spinal cord stimulator

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) or dorsal column stimulator (DCS) is a type of implantable neuromodulation device (sometimes called a "pain pacemaker") that is used to send electrical signals to select areas of the spinal cord (dorsal columns) for the treatment of certain pain conditions. SCS is a consideration for people who have a pain condition that has not responded to more conservative therapy. There are also spinal cord stimulators under research and development that could enable patients with spinal cord injury to walk again via epidural electrical stimulation (EES).

Deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a medical device called a neurostimulator, which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to specific targets in the brain (the brain nucleus) for the treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and epilepsy. While its underlying principles and mechanisms are not fully understood, DBS directly changes brain activity in a controlled manner.

Related publications (31)

Decoding electroencephalographic responses to visual stimuli compatible with electrical stimulation

Silvestro Micera, Laura Toni, Fiorenzo Artoni, Simone Romeni

Electrical stimulation of the visual nervous system could improve the quality of life of patients affected by acquired blindness by restoring some visual sensations, but requires careful optimization of stimulation parameters to produce useful perceptions. ...

Aip Publishing2024

Probing and modulating inter-areal coupling in the cortical visual motion processing pathway with non-invasive brain stimulation

Michele Bevilacqua

In the last few years, stroke ranked as the second most common cause of death and is the third most significant condition affecting disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide. Being the most prevalent and quality of life impacting post-stroke symptom ...

EPFL2024

Biophysically accurate and machine learning-based surrogate models to optimize neuroprosthesis design and operation

Simone Romeni

Electrical stimulation of the nervous system has emerged as a promising assistive technology in case of many injuries and illnesses across various parts of the nervous system. In particular, the invasive neuromodulation of the peripheral nervous system see ...

EPFL2024