Optimization of Checkerboard Spatial Frequencies for Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential Brain-Computer Interfaces

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are oscillations of the electroencephalogram (EEG) which are mainly observed over the occipital area that exhibit a frequency corresponding to a repetitively flashing visual stimulus. SSVEPs have proven to be very consistent and reliable signals for rap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering 2017-06, Vol.25 (6), p.557-565
Main Authors: Waytowich, Nicholas R., Yamani, Yusuke, Krusienski, Dean J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Algorithms
Avatars
Brain
Brain Mapping - methods
Brain-Computer Interfaces
Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs)
canonical correlation analysis
checkerboard stimuli
Correlation
Correlation analysis
Design improvements
EEG
Electric potential
Electrodes
Electroencephalography
Electroencephalography - methods
Evoked potentials
Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology
Female
Flashing
Frequency dependence
Handedness
Humans
Information transfer
Interfaces
Irritation
Male
Optimization
Oscillations
Pattern Recognition, Automated - methods
Photic Stimulation - methods
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Solids
Spatio-Temporal Analysis
steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP)
Visual Cortex - physiology
Visual evoked potentials
Visual signals
Visual stimuli
Visualization
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Description
Summary:Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) are oscillations of the electroencephalogram (EEG) which are mainly observed over the occipital area that exhibit a frequency corresponding to a repetitively flashing visual stimulus. SSVEPs have proven to be very consistent and reliable signals for rapid EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) control. There is conflicting evidence regarding whether solid or checkerboard-patterned flashing stimuli produce superior BCI performance. Furthermore, the spatial frequency of checkerboard stimuli can be varied for optimal performance. The present study performs an empirical evaluation of performance for a 4-class SSVEP-based BCI when the spatial frequency of the individual checkerboard stimuli is varied over a continuum ranging from a solid background to single-pixel checkerboard patterns. The results indicate that a spatial frequency of 2.4 cycles per degree can maximize the information transfer rate with a reduction in subjective visual irritation compared to lower spatial frequencies. This important finding on stimulus design can lead to improved performance and usability of SSVEP-based BCIs.
ISSN:1534-4320
1558-0210
DOI:10.1109/TNSRE.2016.2601013