Files and links (1)
PDFOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access
Thesis
Assessment of Fatigue in Brain Computer Interface Users
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Sep 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4303
Abstract
The brain computer interface (BCI) is an alternative communication method for those living with physically disabling conditions such as neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and stroke that uses a cap with embedded electrodes to read electroencephalography (EEC) signals and uses them to control a computer, Specifically, the P300, a naive response to target stimuli, is used to select letters from a matrix. The system provides those with no neuromuscular control with a novel channel for communication. To date, little to no work has investigated the effects of mental fatigue arising from short-term BCI use on the signals that are used to control the BCI itself. Methods typically used to characterize fatigue in EEG signals employ spectral analysis techniques that are confounded by periodic stimulus presentation in the BCI protocol. The characterization of the effects of fatigue could enable developers to create BCI systems that compensate for or prevent fatigue, which could improve overall usability. Eleven healthy subjects from the Philadelphia region participated in trials using the P300-based BCI alongside cognitive and self-reported measures of fatigue under informed consent. The changes in EEG signals related to increased mental fatigue occurred in a predictable manner, forming a "checkmark" pattern in P300 amplitude across BCI trials, mirroring the results of a 2006 study investigating fatigues effects on the P300 signal specifically. Future work may incorporate this pattern into adaptive BCI systems capable of detecting and compensating for mental fatigue during longterm BCI use. Additionally, a software package was designed and distributed to help accelerate and standardize research investigating event-related potentials (ERPs) such as the P300 wave. The package, created in MATLAB, allows the user to rapidly assess ERP quality and perform in-depth analysis of large quantities of data.
Metrics
55 File views/ downloads
34 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Assessment of Fatigue in Brain Computer Interface Users
- Creators
- Vincent J. Petaccio II - DU
- Contributors
- Hasan Ayaz (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4303; 991014632292604721