BRAIN COMPUTER

INTERFACE
 What is a BCI?

BCI : Traditional Definition

The goal of BCI technology is to give severely paralyzed people
another way to communicate, a way that doesnt depend on
muscle control.
BCI : Modern Definition
A system which takes a bio-signal measured from a person and
predicts( in real time/ on a single trial basis) some abstract aspect
of the persons cognitive state.
How the brain turn thoughts into action?
The brain is full of neurons which are connected to each other by
axons and dendrites to form a super highway for nerve impulses to
travel from neuron to neuron to produce speech, movement etc.
The electrical signals that are generated the thought and action
travel at a rate of about 250 feet per second or faster.
 BCI TYPES

Invasive BCIs
Implanted directly in the grey matter of the brain by neurosurgery.
Produce the highest quality signals of BCI devices.
Prone to scar tissue build up, causing the signal to become weak or
even lost as the body reacts to foreign object in the brain.
Partially Invasive
Inside the skull but outside the grey matter.
Electrocorticography(ECoG) records the activity of the brain inside
the skull but from the surface of the membranes that protect it.
Non Invasive
Just applied on the scalp, outside of the skull.
Most useful Neuron signal imaging method.
Techniques : EEG, MEG, fMRI
 BCI Subtypes

Active BCI
One that you control by conscious voluntary thought like imagining to
move your limbs.
Output from brain directly controlled by user independent of external
events, for controlling an application.
Reactive BCI
Outputs from brain activity arising in reaction to external
stimulation
Still have voluntary action but we are dependent on the external
event. Example flickering light.
Passive BCI
Picks up any thought process or arbitrary activity that brain generates
and utilises that information to enrich to add to your interaction with your
computer. Information about stress level, excitement level.
Many Passive BCIs can run in parallel and collect diverse information
simultaneously which cant be done by the other two.
BASIC SETUP
 INPUT(Bio-signals)

Electroencephalogram(EEG) is relatively cheap to measure, the

recording is obtained by placing electrodes on the scalp with a
conductive gel or paste

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy(fNIRS) which uses

non electrical brain process, essentially difference in blood oxygen
level in the brain as you recruit certain tissues to do some kind of
work. Activity of a part of the brain increases the oxygen levels
there increasing the ratio of oxyhaemoglobin to
deoxyhaemoglobin.
Magnetoencephalography(MEG) measures the similar kind of
signals like EEG except this detects the tiny magnetic fields
created as individual neurons. It can pinpoint the active region and
can follow the movement of brain activity as it travels to different
regions in the brain.
 10/20 SYSTEM
Internationally recognised method for location of scalp electrodes based on
the relationship between the location of electrode and underlying area of
cerebral cortex.
The numbers 10 or 20 refer to the fact that the distances between
adjacent electrodes are either 10 or 20% of the total front-back or right-left
distance of the skull.
Letter is used to identify the lobe and number for the hemisphere.
F:Frontal
T:Temporal
C: central
P: parietal
O: occipital
No central lobe exists c letter is just for identification.
Z zero refers to an electrode placed on the mid line.
Even numbers refer to electrode positions on the right hemisphere
Odd numbers refer to electrode positions on the left hemisphere.
 Four anatomical landmarks are used
for positioning of the electrodes.
First the nasion which is the point
between the forehead and the nose.
Second the inion which is the lowest
point of the skull from the back of the
head and Is normally indicated by a
prominent bump, the pre-auricular
points anterior to the ear.
 Exploring electrode sites commonly
used in PSG include:
Central leads (Cz, C3, C4)
Most of sleep activity detectable with these leads
Referenced to mastoid electrode
Frontal leads (F3, F4)
Occipital leads (Oz, O1, O2)
Detect alpha rhythm which signifies quiet
wakefulness
Mastoid leads (M1, M2)
 1.Nasion The bridge of the nose or lowest
indentation point between nose and forehead
2.Inion Bony ridge at the base of the back of
the skull. Have patient tilt head up and down to
feel it better.
3.Pre-auricular points Indentations just
above the cartilage that covers the external ear
openings
4.Mastoid Process bony area located just
behind the ear. Where M1 and M2 reference
electrodes are placed.
 Nasion Inion:Measure from Nasion to Inion.
Example 40 cm total. Follow the measurement chart using the
correct percentages.
Example: starting at Nasion 10% of 40 cm = 4 cm. Count four
centimeters from the Nasion and mark this point as Fp1
20% of 40 cm = 8 cm. Count up 8 centimeters from Fp1 and
mark this point as Fz
Count another 8 cm from Fz (20%) and mark this point as Cz
Count another 8 cm from Cz (20%) and mark this point as Pz
Count another 8 cm from Pz (20%) and mark this point as Oz
The measurement between Oz and the Inion mark should be
10% or 4 cm.
 Pre-auricular to Pre-auricular
Follow the same procedure as above making sure your tape measurer passes
over the Cz point. Note the total measurement in centimeters then mark your
T7, C3, Cz, C4, and T8 points according to the percentages specified on the
chart.
Head Circumference
Measure around the circumference of the head from Fpz with tape measurer
passing over Oz, T7, and T8.Follow percentages on chart.
F3 and F4 placement
F3
Measure from F7 to Fz and divide this number in half, marking that point then
Measure from Fp1 to C3 and divide in half, mark that point
The point where these two cross is your F3 mark
F4
Measure from Fz to F8, divide in half and mark then
Measure from C4 to Fp2, divide in half and mark
The point where these two cross is your F4 mark