Brain-computer interface for user's visual focus detection
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSanjay E. Sarma, Alex Armengol Urpi
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Abstract
According to various aspects, a new concept of Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential (SSVEP) based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is described where brain-computer communication occurs by capturing SSVEP induced by consciously imperceptible visual stimuli integrated into, for example, a virtual scene. These consciously imperceptible visual stimuli are able to convey subliminal information to a computer. In various embodiments, computer based operations can be mapped to visual elements with associated flickering stimuli, and induced SSVEP can be detected when the user focused upon them. In various embodiments, these visual elements can be introduced into existing display without any perceivable change to content being displayed.
Claims20
A system for providing a brain computer interface, the system comprising:
- at least one processor operatively connected to a memory;
- a stimulus generator, executed by the at least one processor, configured to generate flickering visual elements for rendering in a display of content, the flickering visual elements having an associated flicker rate exceeding a critical fusion rate beyond which flickering cannot be consciously perceived;
- at least one electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, coupled to the at least one processor, to capture EEG data corresponding to brain activity of a user observing the display of content including the flickering visual elements;
- and
- wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
- dynamically change a current flickering frequency of a first flickering visual element from a first frequency to a second frequency based on a change in a display position of the first flickering visual element;
- detect a visually evoked potential in the captured EEG data associated with the first flickering visual element, based on the current flickering frequency of the first flickering visual element;
- and
- trigger at least one computer function mapped to the first flickering visual element corresponding to the detected visually evoked potential.
A method for controlling a brain computer interface, the method comprising:
- generating, by at least one processor, flickering visual elements for rendering in a display of content, the flickering visual elements having an associated flicker rate exceeding a critical fusion rate beyond which flickering cannot be consciously perceived;
- dynamically changing, by the at least one processor, a current flickering frequency of a first flickering visual element from a first frequency to a second frequency based on a change in a display position of the first flickering visual element;
- capturing, by the at least one processor, electroencephalogram (EEG) data corresponding to brain activity of a user observing the display of content including the flickering visual elements;
- detecting, by the at least one processor, a visually evoked potential in the captured EEG data corresponding to brain activity associated with the first visual element based on the current flickering frequency of the first flickering visual element;
- and
- triggering, by the at least one processor, at least one computer function mapped to the first flickering visual element corresponding to the detected visually evoked potential.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions that when executed cause a computer to execute a method for controlling a brain computer interface, the method comprising:
- generating flickering visual elements for rendering in a display of content, the flickering visual elements having an associated flicker rate exceeding a critical fusion rate beyond which flickering cannot be consciously perceived;
- dynamically changing a current flickering frequency of a first flickering visual element from a first frequency to a second frequency based on a change in a display position of the first flickering visual element;
- capturing electroencephalogram (EEG) data corresponding to brain activity of a user observing the display of content;
- detecting a visually evoked potential in the captured EEG data corresponding to brain activity associated with the first visual element based on the current flickering frequency of the first flickering visual element;
- and
- triggering at least one computer function mapped to the first flickering visual element corresponding to the detected visually evoked potential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.