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An SSVEP-Actuated Brain Computer Interface Using Phase-Tagged Flickering Sequences: A Cursor System

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Abstract

This study presents a new steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based brain computer interface (BCI). SSVEPs, induced by phase-tagged flashes in eight light emitting diodes (LEDs), were used to control four cursor movements (up, right, down, and left) and four button functions (on, off, right-, and left-clicks) on a screen menu. EEG signals were measured by one EEG electrode placed at Oz position, referring to the international EEG 10-20 system. Since SSVEPs are time-locked and phase-locked to the onsets of SSVEP flashes, EEG signals were bandpass-filtered and segmented into epochs, and then averaged across a number of epochs to sharpen the recorded SSVEPs. Phase lags between the measured SSVEPs and a reference SSVEP were measured, and targets were recognized based on these phase lags. The current design used eight LEDs to flicker at 31.25 Hz with 45° phase margin between any two adjacent SSVEP flickers. The SSVEP responses were filtered within 29.25–33.25 Hz and then averaged over 60 epochs. Owing to the utilization of high-frequency flickers, the induced SSVEPs were away from low-frequency noises, 60 Hz electricity noise, and eye movement artifacts. As a consequence, we achieved a simple architecture that did not require eye movement monitoring or other artifact detection and removal. The high-frequency design also achieved a flicker fusion effect for better visualization. Seven subjects were recruited in this study to sequentially input a command sequence, consisting of a sequence of eight cursor functions, repeated three times. The accuracy and information transfer rate (mean ± SD) over the seven subjects were 93.14 ± 5.73% and 28.29 ± 12.19 bits/min, respectively. The proposed system can provide a reliable channel for severely disabled patients to communicate with external environments.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Central University, National Science Council (95-2314-B-075-118, 96-2628-E-008-070-MY3, 96-2221-E-008-122-MY3, 96-2221-E-010-003-MY3, 96-2221-E-008-115-MY3, 96-2752-B-010-008-PAE), and Veterans General Hospital University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program (VGHUST96-P4-15, VGHUST97-P3-11, VGHUST98-P3-09, VGHUST99-P3-13). We thank Prof. Yu-Te Wu for his contribution in manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli City, Taoyuan County, 32001, Taiwan

    Po-Lei Lee, Jyun-Jie Sie, Yu-Ju Liu, Chi-Hsun Wu, Ming-Huan Lee & Kuo-Kai Shyu

  2. Integrated Brain Research Laboratory, Taipei General Veterans Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Po-Lei Lee, Chih-Hung Shu & Po-Hung Li

  3. Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Po-Lei Lee

  4. Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Hung Shu

  5. National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Hung Shu

  6. Department of Otolaryngology, Cheng-Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Po-Hung Li

  7. Biophotonics Interdisciplinary Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chia-Wei Sun

  8. Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chia-Wei Sun

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Correspondence to Po-Lei Lee.

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Associate Editor Berj L. Bardakjian oversaw the review of this article.

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Lee, PL., Sie, JJ., Liu, YJ. et al. An SSVEP-Actuated Brain Computer Interface Using Phase-Tagged Flickering Sequences: A Cursor System. Ann Biomed Eng 38, 2383–2397 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-010-9964-y

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