Past, Present, and Future of EEG-Based BCI Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) initially aimed to aid patient recovery and reintegration into daily life.
• EEG-BCI applications have expanded significantly into non-medical domains, enhancing efficiency, collaboration, and personal development for healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review EEG-based BCI literature published between 2009 and 2019.
• To analyze the distribution and categorization of research within medical and non-medical domains.
• To review equipment, signal processing methods, current challenges, and future prospects in EEG-BCI.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases.
• Adherence to the PRISMA model for study selection and data extraction.
• Selection of 202 publications based on predefined eligibility criteria.

Main Results:

• Analysis of research trends, categorizing studies within medical (e.g., rehabilitation) and non-medical (e.g., performance enhancement) fields.
• Overview of commonly used EEG equipment and signal processing techniques.
• Identification of key challenges and future opportunities in EEG-BCI development.

Conclusions:

• EEG-BCI technology demonstrates a growing dual impact in both clinical rehabilitation and everyday life enhancement.
• The review highlights the need for continued research into advanced signal processing and user-centered applications.
• Future directions include addressing current limitations and exploring novel BCI functionalities.