A Novel P300-Based Brain-Computer Interface Stimulus Presentation Paradigm: Moving Beyond Rows and Columns
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2010
Description
Objective: An electroencephalographic brain-computer interface (BCI) can provide a non-muscular means of communication for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other neuromuscular disorders. We present a novel P300-based BCI stimulus presentation - the checkerboard paradigm (CBP). CBP performance is compared to that of the standard row/column paradigm (RCP) introduced by Farwell and Donchin (1988). Methods: Using an 8 × 9 matrix of alphanumeric characters and keyboard commands, 18 participants used the CBP and RCP in counter-balanced fashion. With approximately 9-12 min of calibration data, we used a stepwise linear discriminant analysis for online classification of subsequent data. Results: Mean online accuracy was significantly higher for the CBP, 92%, than for the RCP, 77%. Correcting for extra selections due to errors, mean bit rate was also significantly higher for the CBP, 23 bits/min, than for the RCP, 17 bits/min. Moreover, the two paradigms produced significantly different waveforms. Initial tests with three advanced ALS participants produced similar results. Furthermore, these individuals preferred the CBP to the RCP. Conclusions: These results suggest that the CBP is markedly superior to the RCP in performance and user acceptability. Significance: The CBP has the potential to provide a substantially more effective BCI than the RCP. This is especially important for people with severe neuromuscular disabilities.
Citation Information
Townsend, G.; LaPallo, B. K.; Boulay, C. B.; Krusienski, D. J.; Frye, G. E.; Hauser, C. K.; Schwartz, N. E.; Vaughan, T. M.; Wolpaw, J. R.; and Sellers, Eric W.. 2010. A Novel P300-Based Brain-Computer Interface Stimulus Presentation Paradigm: Moving Beyond Rows and Columns. Clinical Neurophysiology. Vol.121(7). 1109-1120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2010.01.030 PMID: 20347387 ISSN: 1388-2457