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Brain Computer Interfacing Project - Review - The EEG

Brain Computer Interfacing Project

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BCI Review - The EEG

The EEG is recorded between electrodes placed in standard positions on the scalp and has a typical amplitude of 2-100 microvolts and a frequency spectrum from 0.1 to 60 Hz. Most activity occurs within the following frequency bands; delta (0.5 - 4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), beta (13-22 Hz) and gamma (30-40 Hz). The potential at the scalp derives from electrical activity of large synchronised groups of neurons inside the brain. The activity of single neurons or small groups is attenuated too much by the skull and scalp to be detected at the scalp surface. EEG activity in particular frequency bands is often correlated with particular cognitive states. Signals in the alpha band, for example, are associated with relaxation. Thus, an electrode placed over the visual cortex that detects alpha band signals is detecting visual relaxation. An electrode over the motor cortex picking up alpha band signals is detecting motor relaxation (the mu rhythm).

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Brain Computer Interfacing Project - Review - The EEG

Brain-Computer interfaces use EEG signals which can be controlled by the user. These types of EEG signals fall into two main classes; evoked responses which are EEG components evoked by a specific sensory stimulus, such as a flashing light, and spontaneous EEG signals which consist of EEG components that occur without stimulus, such as the alpha rhythm or the mu rhythm. Note, however, that some spontaneous EEG signals such as the mu rhythm can be affected by stimuli. The ability of subjects to produce at will strong spontaneous EEG rhythms such as the alpha rhythm or the mu rhythm can be enhanced by the use of biofeedback or operant conditioning. This is a process whereby the user is given an indication as to how well he/she is controlling a device (eg. by looking at it). This constitutes the `feedback'. The subject then changes their EEG signal in response to this feedback. In this way, the subject to learns control the device through a learning process which can take several hours, days or weeks to complete. BCI systems developed in the 1960s and 1970s relied on biofeedback. It has the advantage of being simple but requires long training times for each user. Evoked Responses used in BCI research fall into three main classes; Evoked Potentials (DC changes in response to continuous evoking stimulus), Event-Related Potentials (DC changes in response to a discrete event) and Event-Related Desynchronisations (AC changes in response to a discrete event). Evoked Potentials (EPs) require a specific external stimulus and originate in sensory cortex areas. A typical evoked potential is the Visual Evoked Potential (VEP). In response to a strobe light, for example, the EEG over the visual cortex will vary at the same frequency as the stimulating light. Subjects can be trained to control the strength of their steady state VEP www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~parg/projects/bci/rev1.html

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Subjects can be trained to control the strength of their steady state VEP with the use of biofeedback. This forms the basis of other BCI systems. Because the EEG control signal is at a precise, known and controllable frequency it is very easy to detect. This means that the subsequent signal processing and pattern recognition tasks are very simple . The disadvantage of such methods is the need for an external stimulus and the long training time required. Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) occur in response to, or in advance of particular `events'. The P300 ERP, for example, occurs 300 ms after an event occurs to which the subject has been told to respond. The event must be one in a series of Bernouilli events (ie. one of two types) and have a low probability of occuring. Event-Related Synchronizations or Desynchronizations (ERS/ERD) are AC changes which occur in response to events (whereas ERPs are DC changes). The mu rhythm, for example, is desychnronized by movement, tactile stimulation or by planned movement (the pictures below show images of the head from above - the left image is for a subject planning a right hand movement and the right image is for planned left hand movement - dark areas correspond to strong mu rhythm ERD).

Brain Computer Interfacing Project - Review - The EEG

Interfaces based on ERPs and ERDs do not, in principle, require any training of the user. The user does not, for example, have to learn to control his ERD - it is already present in any subject who intends to move his finger. This advantage is offset by the fact that ERDs are harder to detect. EPs, ERPs and ERDs are signals between 2 and 10 microvolts in strength. They are therefore difficult to detect in the background EEG signal of 100 microvolts. In clinical research a signal averaging method is used whereby the stimulus or event is repeated a large number of times and the responses are averaged. In this way. the parts of the EEG signal that are not relevant to the 'event' are averaged out. This takes many minutes or hours of signal capture. On-line BCI systems cannot use this method as they must respond within seconds. They must therefore use the nonaveraged EEG. Thus more complex signal processing methods are used which require more computer power. Electrode placement and the subsequent signal processing can be guided by what is known of the neurophysiology of the mechanisms that generate the EEG signals. Thus, for example, systems using the mu rhythm ERD will www.robots.ox.ac.uk/~parg/projects/bci/rev1.html have many electrodes over the appropriate left and right motor cortex areas

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Brain Computer Interfacing Project - Review - The EEG

have many electrodes over the appropriate left and right motor cortex areas and will look for the mu rhythm which is attenuated when the subject intends to move. Often, controlling EEG signals are used which are expected to appear on a particular side of the cortex. Therefore, features such as spectral asymettry ratios which exaggerate these hemispherical differences are extracted at the signal processing stage (mental arithmetic tasks, for example, are known to cause different levels of activity in each hemisphere. So far, we have been talking about the EEG which is recorded from electrodes placed on the scalp. There is also a related recording method called the electrocorticogram (ECoG) in which electrodes are placed on the surface of the cortex. And there are other methods in which implanted electrodes are placed within the cortex. This review, however, is restricted to methods which use the EEG - ie. no brain surgery required! [Menu] [Next]

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