Development of a feedback interface for brain computer interface systems based on motor imagery

• Grant number: 13/23482-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Industrial Electronics, Electronic Systems and Controls
• Principal Investigator: Gabriela Castellano
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto Stefano Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07559-3 - BRAINN - The Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are systems designed to use brain signals to drive external devices for both communication (e.g., keyboards) and movement (e.g., robotic arm, wheel chair) of severely disabled patients and for use in games. The brain signals used for BCI are produced using a variety of strategies, some in which the user is instructed to think of specific things to get certain results. In these cases, the most widely used strategy is motor imagery, which produces signals that are both specific and well localized from the point of view of electroencephalography, which is the main signal acquisition technique for BCI. For this type os system, it is very important for the user to be able to evaluate in real time whether his/her thinking strategy is, indeed, generating signals that are being correctly interpreted by the BCI system. Thus, he/she can adapt his/her strategy to attempt to improve the system performance. The aim of this project is to develop a feedback interface for BCI systems based on motor imagery. This project will be developed under the FINEP DesTINe project, whose aim is the development of BCI systems for improvement of the quality of life of stroke patients; and also under the FAPESP CEPID "Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology" (BRAINN), recently approved. The project will be developed in a partnership between the Neurophysics Group, of the Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute, and the Department of Computer Engineering and Industrial Automation of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, both from UNICAMP, and both participants of the aforementioned projects.