A real-time, high-performance brain-computer interface for finger decoding and quadcopter control

People with paralysis express unmet needs for peer support, leisure activities, and sporting activities. Many within the general population rely on social media and massively multiplayer video games to address these needs. We developed a high-performance finger brain-computer-interface system allowing continuous control of 3 independent finger groups with 2D thumb movements. The system was tested in a human research participant over sequential trials requiring fingers to reach and hold on targets, with an average acquisition rate of 76 targets/minute and completion time of 1.58 ± 0.06 seconds. Performance compared favorably to previous animal studies, despite a 2-fold increase in the decoded degrees-of-freedom (DOF). Finger positions were then used for 4-DOF velocity control of a virtual quadcopter, demonstrating functionality over both fixed and random obstacle courses. This approach shows promise for controlling multiple-DOF end-effectors, such as robotic fingers or digital interfaces for work, entertainment, and socialization.