Comparison of PSDA and CCA detection methods in a SSVEP-based BCI-system

Using steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) in brain-computer interface (BCI) systems is the subject of a lot of research. One of the most popular and widely used detection method is using a power spectral density analysis (PSDA). Lately there have been some new methods emerging, one of them is using canonical correlation analysis (CCA) which seems to have some promising improvements and advantages compared to traditional SSVEP detection methods, like better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), lower inter-subject variability and the possibility to use harmonic frequencies, i.e., a serie of frequencies which have the same fundamental frequency. In this research two different SSVEP detection methods, one using PSDA and one using CCA are compared. The results show that the CCA-based detection method performs significantly better than the PSDA-based detection method. The increase of performance can in particular be seen when using harmonic frequencies. While the PSDA-based detection method has difficulties detecting harmonic frequencies, the CCA-based detection method is able to detect harmonic frequencies

Evaluating a multi-player brain-computer interface game: challenge versus co-experience

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have started to be considered as game controllers. The low level of control they provide prevents them from providing perfect control but allows the design of challenging games which can be enjoyed by players. Evaluation of enjoyment, or user experience (UX), is rather a new practice with BCI applications. The UX of multi-player BCI games, or co-experience, is especially scarcely assessed. In the study we report in this paper, we relied on observation analysis of social interaction to infer co-experience of pairs of players while they were playing a collaborative multi-player game using BCI. To investigate the effect of perceived level of control on co-experience, we compared BCI control to a more reliable mouse control. In order to investigate the co-experience related factors beyond the level of control, we compared BCI control to an equally reliable control mechanism. Our results show that low level of control dampened collaborative interaction while enhancing emotional interaction within pairs of players. Thus, the challenge of playing a computer game using BCI can influence the co-experience

Evaluating a multi-player brain-computer interface game: challenge versus co-experience

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have started to be considered as game controllers. The low level of control they provide prevents them from providing perfect control but allows the design of challenging games which can be enjoyed by players. Evaluation of enjoyment, or user experience (UX), is rather a new practice with BCI applications. The UX of multi-player BCI games, or co-experience, is especially scarcely assessed. In the study we report in this paper, we relied on observation analysis of social interaction to infer co-experience of pairs of players while they were playing a collaborative multi-player game using BCI. To investigate the effect of perceived level of control on co-experience, we compared BCI control to a more reliable mouse control. In order to investigate the co-experience related factors beyond the level of control, we compared BCI control to an equally reliable control mechanism. Our results show that low level of control dampened collaborative interaction while enhancing emotional interaction within pairs of players. Thus, the challenge of playing a computer game using BCI can influence the co-experience

Social Interaction in a Cooperative Brain-computer Interface Game

Does using a brain-computer interface (BCI) influence the social interaction between people when playing a cooperative game? By measuring the amount of speech, utterances, instrumental gestures and empathic gestures during a cooperative game where two participants had to reach a certain goal, and questioning participants about their own experience afterwards this study attempts to provide answers to this question. The results showed that social interaction changed when using a BCI compared to using a mouse. There was a higher amount of utterances and empathic gestures. This indicates that the participants reacted more to the higher difficulty of the BCI selection method. Participants also reported that they felt they cooperated better during the use of the mouse