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Eyes-Closed Increases the Usability of Brain-Computer Interfaces Based on Auditory Event-Related Potentials
David Hübner1,2, Albrecht Schall1, Natalie Prange1
1Brain State Decoding Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|October 17, 2018
Summary
Using brain-computer interfaces (BCI) with eyes closed is viable for auditory communication and rehabilitation. This eyes-closed approach enhances user comfort without compromising performance, offering a practical alternative.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) utilizing auditory stimuli are effective for communication and rehabilitation.
- Current BCI protocols often require users to maintain an eyes-open state, suppressing eye movements, which can cause fatigue and reduce compliance.
- Investigating alternative BCI paradigms is crucial for improving user experience and accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an eyes-closed auditory brain-computer interface (BCI).
- To compare the impact of eyes-open versus eyes-closed conditions on electroencephalography (EEG) signal quality, artifact levels, and classification accuracy.
- To assess user preference and comfort between eyes-open and eyes-closed BCI operation.
Main Methods:
- Twelve healthy participants underwent a single EEG session.
- Subjects listened to a rapid stream of bisyllabic words under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions.
- Usability was assessed via questionnaire, and EEG data were analyzed for artifact content, event-related potentials (ERPs), and classification accuracy.
Main Results:
- The eyes-closed condition did not increase eye artifacts compared to the eyes-open condition.
- Event-related potential (ERP) responses and BCI classification accuracies were comparable between the two conditions.
- Participants reported significantly higher preference and lower tension levels in the eyes-closed condition.
Conclusions:
- An eyes-closed auditory BCI is a viable and user-preferred alternative to traditional eyes-open paradigms.
- This approach maintains performance while potentially increasing comfort and compliance, especially for individuals with motor control challenges.
- The ability to switch between eyes-open and eyes-closed states without significant performance degradation offers flexibility in BCI applications.
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