Methods and aproaches to improve brain-computer interface control by healthy users and patients with movement disorders

DOI nefunkční (1.11.2017)Обзор направлен на поиск способов улучшения работы оператора системы «интерфейс мозг-компьютер» (ИМК), в том числе в клинической практике. Будут рассмотрены методы тренировки, в частности, улучшающие воображение движений (motor imagery). Основные рассматриваемые темы: что и как представлять; способы использования обратной связи; виды тренировок, способствующих улучшению концентрации внимания на задаче: тренировки, основанные на наблюдении за движениями, целенаправленная двигательная терапия в нейрореабилитации, психосоматические практики. Кроме того, приводятся сведения по влиянию психологических и социальных факторов на успешность управления ИМК. Существенными являются способность к зрительно-моторной координации и концентрации на задании, мотивационные факторы, страх некомпетентности и создание оптимальной эмоциональной обстановки во время сеанса ИМК.This article reviews the methods of improving user performance when controlling brain-computer interface (BCI) both for healthy users and for patients with movement disorders. The article analyses the methods of BCI user training and motor imagery optimization. The main topics covered in the article are as follow: what and how to imagine, types of feedback, types of training technics improving attention concentration on the task (action observational training, goal-directed physical therapy during neurorehabilitation, body-mind therapy), psychological and social factors. The following predictors of BCI performance have been identified: visuo-motor coordination ability, concentration on task, motivation, fear of incompetence (negative correlation with classification accuracy), and positive emotional environment.Web of Science67439337

Influence of emotional stability on successfulness of learning to control brain-computer interface

DOI nefunkční (1.11.2017)Исследовали обучение управлению системой “Интерфейс мозг-компьютер” (ИМК) с помощью специально разработанного тренинга. Тренинг включал осуществление медленных циклических движений правой и левой рукой (длительность каждого движения соответствовала длительности представлений движений руки при работе с ИМК), представление этих движений, а также спокойное сидение до начала движений. До проведения тренинга и после него осуществлялось управление ИМК. По тесту темперамента Айзенка оценивали степень эмоциональной устойчивости (нейротизм). Сравнение значений точности классификации состояний мозга при представлении движений до и после тренинга показало, что успешность обучения управлению ИМК зависит от показателей испытуемых по шкале нейротизма. После тренинга разделимость состояний мозга при представлении движений правой и левой руки достоверно увеличивалась у пользователей с низким, но не с высоким нейротизмом, более того, у последних разделимость состояний мозга при представлении движений правой руки и в покое достоверно уменьшалась. Субъективная сложность представляемых (но не реальных) движений тем больше, чем выше показатели по шкале нейротизма. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют о необходимости учитывать эмоциональную устойчивость пользователя при разработке методик обучения управлению ИМК.Learning of brain -computer interface (BCI) control by means movement training was studied. The training included slow cyclic movements of the right and the left hands (the duration of each movement corresponded to the duration of imagination of the hand movements during BCI control), the imagery of these movements (each of the conditions for 3 min) and the sitting quietly before the movements (6 min). Before the training and after it subjects performed BCI control. Neuroticism was estimated in all of the subjects by Eysenck personality questionnaire. The comparison of the values of the classification accuracy of brain states during motor imagery before and after the training showed that the success of BCI control learning depends on the performance of subjects on a scale of neuroticism (emotional stability/instability). The classification accuracy of brain states during imagination of the right and the left hand was significantly increased after training in users with low levels of neuroticism (values in the range 4 to 11), but not in users with high levels (values in the range 15 to 22). Moreover, the classification accuracy between brain states during imagination of the right hand and in the rest decreased significantly after training in the users with high levels of neuroticism. The more subjective complexity of imagery (but not real) movements, the less emotional stability. The results indicate the need to consider the level of user's neuroticism when designing the methods to learn BCI control.Web of Science67449248

The Impact of Tax Preferences on the Investment Attractiveness of Bonds for Retail Investors: The Case of Russia

The impact of tax incentives on the investment attractiveness of bonds for retail investors is assessed in the article. The paper presents a comparative empirical analysis of investment attractiveness of Russian bonds and bank deposits for domestic retail investors. We identify investment preferences of retail investors in Russia, analyze investment characteristics of deposits in Russian banks and a variety of bonds available for retail investors. Given the tax benefits of the recently introduced Individual Investment Account, we show that the real yield of investment in government bonds is over eight times higher than the yield of bank deposits. Despite higher risks of investing in bonds, we conclude that government bonds taking into account the tax benefits of the Individual Investment Account could be a realistic alternative to bank deposits for Russian retail investors

Macrozoobenthos diversity of the Middle Ob river tributaries

The data show quantitative and qualitative composition of macrozoobenthos of the 12 left-bank confluences of the Middle Ob. The research has documented the presence of various groups, such as Oligohaeta, Diptera, Odonata, Hirudinea, Tabanidae, Trichoptera and Mollusca. The chironomids, molluscs and leeches play a significant role in the generation of biomass in the surveyed streams, and the abundance mostly depends on chironomids, oligochaetes and leeches. In general, zoobenthos abundance ranges from 8.8 (the Shudelka river) to 1839.9 (the Kochebilovka river) ind./m2, biomass is from 0.08 (Tatosh river) to 8.37 (Lozunga river) g/m2. The amount and benthos biomass of the Middle Ob’s second-order tributaries is higher than in the first-order tributaries

Macrozoobenthos diversity of the Middle Ob river tributaries

The data show quantitative and qualitative composition of macrozoobenthos of the 12 left-bank confluences of the Middle Ob. The research has documented the presence of various groups, such as Oligohaeta, Diptera, Odonata, Hirudinea, Tabanidae, Trichoptera and Mollusca. The chironomids, molluscs and leeches play a significant role in the generation of biomass in the surveyed streams, and the abundance mostly depends on chironomids, oligochaetes and leeches. In general, zoobenthos abundance ranges from 8.8 (the Shudelka river) to 1839.9 (the Kochebilovka river) ind./m2, biomass is from 0.08 (Tatosh river) to 8.37 (Lozunga river) g/m2. The amount and benthos biomass of the Middle Ob’s second-order tributaries is higher than in the first-order tributaries