A hybrid brain computer interface system based on the neurophysiological protocol and brain-actuated switch for...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) translate brain activity into machine commands.
• Hybrid BCIs enhance control efficiency for devices like wheelchairs.
• Existing hybrid BCIs struggle with multi-dimensional control in a single cycle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel hybrid Brain Computer Interface (BCI) system.
• To enable synchronous control of wheelchair speed and direction.
• To introduce a hybrid modalities-based switch for system control.

Main Methods:

• Combining motor imagery (MI) bio-signals with steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs).
• Developing a hybrid modalities-based switch for system activation/deactivation.
• Conducting training and real-world wheelchair control experiments.

Main Results:

• Successful completion of training and real-world wheelchair control tasks by all subjects.
• No collisions occurred during the real-world wheelchair control experiment.
• The system provided significantly more control commands compared to previous MI and SSVEP BCIs.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid BCI system efficiently controls wheelchair direction and speed.
• The hybrid signals-based switch control is reliable.
• The proposed control strategy demonstrates superiority in wheelchair BCI systems, validated by path length optimality ratio.