Tensor-based classification of an auditory mobile BCI without a subject-specific calibration phase
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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

P300-Based Brain-Computer Interface Speller Performance Estimation with Classifier-Based Latency Estimation
Published on: September 8, 2023
Rob Zink1,2, Borbála Hunyadi1,2, Sabine Van Huffel1,2
1KU Leuven, Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
Objective:
One of the major drawbacks in EEG brain-computer interfaces (BCI) is the need for subject-specific training of the classifier. By removing the need for a supervised calibration phase, new users could potentially explore a BCI faster. In this work we aim to remove this subject-specific calibration phase and allow direct classification.
Approach:
We explore canonical polyadic decompositions and block term decompositions of the EEG. These methods exploit structure in higher dimensional data arrays called tensors. The BCI tensors are constructed by concatenating ERP templates from other subjects to a target and non-target trial and the inherent structure guides a decomposition that allows accurate classification. We illustrate the new method on data from a three-class auditory oddball paradigm.
Main Results:
The presented approach leads to a fast and intuitive classification with accuracies competitive with a supervised and cross-validated LDA approach.
Significance:
The described methods are a promising new way of classifying BCI data with a forthright link to the original P300 ERP signal over the conventional and widely used supervised approaches.

