[Spatial gradient of P300 area of the brain visual evoked potential in the brain-computer interface paradigm]

In 12 adult healthy subjects we studied Brain-Computer-Interface recognition of different intended letters by the square of P300 wave in the averaged VEP. Horizontal and vertical spatial gradient of this square was studied as well as tuning acuteness of visual attention to a significant letter. High acuteness of this tuning was found (width of the tuning curve at its half height was equal to 1.6 grad) independent of the letter position on the letter matrix. Horizontal and vertical gradient of P300 were found to be very similar, but in the half of cases the first one revealed some kind of the "lateral inhibition": decrease of P300 square for the columns neighboring to the meaningful one. Tuning acuteness was found to be reliable and directly interrelated with P300 square. The data are discussed in relation to selectivity of the local visual attention.