Vividness of Visual Imagery and Personality Impact Motor-Imagery Brain Computer Interfaces
Leeuwis,Nikki Paas,Alissa Alimardani,Maryam
Leeuwis,Nikki
Paas,Alissa
Alimardani,Maryam
Abstract
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are communication bridges between a human brain and external world, enabling humans to interact with their environment without muscle intervention. Their functionality, therefore, depends on both the BCI system and the cognitive capacities of the user. Motor-imagery BCIs (MI-BCI) rely on the users' mental imagination of body movements. However, not all users have the ability to sufficiently modulate their brain activity for control of a MI-BCI; a problem known as BCI illiteracy or inefficiency. The underlying mechanism of this phenomenon and the cause of such difference among users is yet not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of several cognitive and psychological measures on MI-BCI performance. Fifty-five novice BCI-users participated in a left- versus right-hand motor imagery task. In addition to their BCI classification error rate and demographics, psychological measures including personality factors, affinity for technology, and motivation during the experiment, as well as cognitive measures including visuospatial memory and spatial ability and Vividness of Visual Imagery were collected. Factors that were found to have a significant impact on MI-BCI performance were Vividness of Visual Imagery, and the personality factors of orderliness and autonomy. These findings shed light on individual traits that lead to difficulty in BCI operation and hence can help with early prediction of inefficiency among users to optimize training for them.
Description
Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Leeuwis, Paas and Alimardani.
Date
2021-04-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
brain-computer interface, motor imagery, BCI illiteracy, BCI performance, cognitive abilities, personality traits, vividness of visual imagery questionnaire, visuospatial memory and spatial ability
Citation
Leeuwis, N, Paas, A & Alimardani, M 2021, 'Vividness of Visual Imagery and Personality Impact Motor-Imagery Brain Computer Interfaces', Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 15, 634748. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.634748
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess