Effects of Soft Drinks on Resting State EEG and Brain-Computer Interface Performance.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable device control via brain signals.
• Factors like diet can influence electroencephalography (EEG) and BCI performance.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for optimizing BCI applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of soft drinks and coffee on resting-state EEG signals.
• To evaluate the effects of caffeine and sugar on motor imagery-based BCI performance.
• To provide novel insights into dietary influences on BCI technology.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-six healthy subjects participated in multiple BCI sessions.
• Participants consumed unlabeled beverages: sugar (soft drink), caffeine (diet soda), or neither.
• Resting-state EEG spectral power and online BCI performance were analyzed across conditions.

Main Results:

• Caffeine consumption significantly decreased alpha and beta band power in resting-state EEG.
• No substantial difference in group-averaged online BCI performance was observed after caffeine intake.
• Dietary factors like caffeine and sugar can alter EEG spectral power.

Conclusions:

• Caffeine intake alters resting-state EEG spectral power, particularly in alpha and beta bands.
• Despite EEG signal changes, caffeine did not significantly impair online BCI performance.
• This research highlights the complex interaction between diet, brain activity, and BCI control.