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Can vibrotactile stimulation and tDCS help inefficient BCI users?
Kyungho Won1, Heegyu Kim1, Daeun Gwon2
1School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, South Korea.
Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation
|May 4, 2023
Summary
Vibrotactile stimulation significantly improved brain-computer interface (BCI) performance in low-performing users, unlike transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Inefficient BCI users showed greater brain plasticity, suggesting personalized stimulation approaches are key.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
Background:
- Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer a non-invasive way to control external devices using brain activity.
- Limited BCI performance in some individuals necessitates methods to enhance brain activity modulation.
- Comparative studies on different stimulation techniques for BCI improvement are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of vibrotactile stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on brain activity and motor imagery BCI performance.
- To investigate these effects specifically in individuals with inefficient BCI control.
- To determine if stimulation efficacy varies with user BCI efficiency.
Main Methods:
- 44 subjects with low BCI performance were recruited and divided into sham, vibrotactile stimulation, and tDCS groups.
- Motor imagery BCI performance and pre-stimulus alpha band power were measured.
- Phase locking values (PLVs) over sensorimotor areas were analyzed post-stimulation.
Main Results:
- Vibrotactile stimulation significantly increased BCI performance by 9.13% in low performers (p < 0.01).
- tDCS showed a non-significant performance increase of 5.13%, while the sham group showed no improvement.
- Both vibrotactile and tDCS significantly increased alpha band power and PLVs in low performers, unlike the sham group or high performers.
Conclusions:
- Vibrotactile stimulation is a promising method for enhancing BCI performance in inefficient users.
- Inefficient BCI users demonstrate greater neural plasticity compared to efficient users.
- Stimulation effectiveness is dependent on individual BCI user efficiency, highlighting the need for tailored BCI interventions.
