Time domain-based methods for noninvasive brain-machine interfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468541-B2
Application number	US-201113695631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2011
Priority date	May 5, 2010
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A noninvasive brain computer interface (BCI) system includes an electroencephalography (EEG) electrode array configured to acquire EEG signals generated by a subject. The subject observes movement of a stimulus. A computer is coupled to the EEG electrode array and configured to collected and process the acquired EEG signals. A decoding algorithm is used that analyzes low-frequency (delta band) brain waves in the time domain to continuously decode neural activity associated with the observed movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of decoding neural activity for a brain computer interface (BCI) system, comprising the steps of:
recording noninvasively acquired electroencephalography (EEG) signals of a subject in a time domain when the subject observes movement of a stimulus while the subject is simultaneously imagining movement of a limb tracking the movement of the stimulus;
continuously decoding only the recorded EEG signals having a frequency of less than 4 Hz and in the time domain associated with the observed movement and the imagined movement; and
correlating fluctuations in amplitude of the decoded recorded EEG signals with an intent of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising a further step of generating command signals for controlling movement of a device operably associated with the BCI system, wherein the command signals are associated with the intent of the subject.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the device is a cursor displayed on a display, the cursor movable in two dimensions on the display based on EEG signals of the subject.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the device is a prosthetic device movable in three dimensions based on EEG signals of the subject.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is imagining movement of the limb in at least two dimensions when tracking the movement of the stimulus.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the decoded EEG signals are associated with observed or imagined hand movement in a human subject.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the decoded EEG signals are associated with observed or imagined bipedal movement in a human subject.

8. A method of identifying a neural biomarker of a movement condition, comprising the steps of:
recording noninvasively acquired electroencephalography (EEG) signals of a subject in a time domain when the subject observes movement of a stimulus while the subject is simultaneously imagining movement of a limb tracking the movement of the stimulus;
continuously decoding only the recorded EEG signals having a frequency of less than 4 Hz and in the time domain associated with the observed movement and the imagined movement; and
correlating fluctuations in amplitude of the decoded recorded EEG signals with a biomarker of a movement condition.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the movement condition is associated with a movement disorder due to a neurological condition, a developmental disorder, or abnormal aging.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the subject is imagining movement of the limb in at least two dimensions when tracking the movement of the stimulus.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the decoded EEG signals are associated with observed or imagined hand movement in a human subject.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the decoded EEG signals are associated with observed or imagined bipedal movement in a human subject.

Assignees

• Contreras-Vidal Jose L
• Bradberry Trent J
• Gentili Rodolphe J
• Agashe Harshavardhan
• Univ Maryland

Inventors

• Contreras-Vidal Jose L
• Bradberry Trent J
• Gentili Rodolphe J
• Agashe Harshavardhan

Classifications

• A61F2/72 Primary

  Bioelectric control, e.g. myoelectric · CPC title

• A61B5/0478

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B5/04842

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• G06F3/013

  Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/04009

  Human Necessities · mapped topic