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. 2012 Jul 17:5:14.
doi: 10.3389/fneng.2012.00014. eCollection 2012.

P300 brain computer interface: current challenges and emerging trends

Affiliations

P300 brain computer interface: current challenges and emerging trends

Reza Fazel-Rezai et al. Front Neuroeng. .

Abstract

A brain-computer interface (BCI) enables communication without movement based on brain signals measured with electroencephalography (EEG). BCIs usually rely on one of three types of signals: the P300 and other components of the event-related potential (ERP), steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), or event related desynchronization (ERD). Although P300 BCIs were introduced over twenty years ago, the past few years have seen a strong increase in P300 BCI research. This closed-loop BCI approach relies on the P300 and other components of the ERP, based on an oddball paradigm presented to the subject. In this paper, we overview the current status of P300 BCI technology, and then discuss new directions: paradigms for eliciting P300s; signal processing methods; applications; and hybrid BCIs. We conclude that P300 BCIs are quite promising, as several emerging directions have not yet been fully explored and could lead to improvements in bit rate, reliability, usability, and flexibility.

Keywords: P300; brain computer interface; event-related potential.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of published journal papers in PubMed and Scopus from 2000 to 2010 when “[(P300 OR P3) AND (BCI OR Brain Computer Interface)]” keyword was used.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Row/column paradigm: row and columns are flashed. (B) Single character paradigm: each character is flashed. (C,D) Checkerboard paradigm. (E,F) Region based paradigm where a set of characters in level 1 (E) are expanded in level 2 for spelling character “B” (F).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example of a brain painting picture painted by a healthy volunteer.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Scheme of virtual environment setup.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(A) Smart home interface mask. (B) Bird′s eye view of the virtual apartment with domotic devices to be operated like the TV set, music set, room light, or chess board.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Upper panel: UML diagram of service Twitter and P300—Twitter interface mask for control. Lower panel: Screenshot of Second life situation and Second Life interface main mask to walk forward/backward, turn left/right, slide left/right, climb, teleport home, show map, turn around, activate/deactivate running mode, start/stop flying, decline, activate/deactivate mouse-look view, enter search mask, take snapshot, start chat, quit, and stand-by.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(A) The intendix BCI running on the laptop and user wearing the active electrodes. (B) User interface with 50 characters and computer keyboard like layout.

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