Cognitive biometrics: Challenges for the future

Abstract

Cognitive biometrics is a novel approach to user authentication/ identification which utilises a biosignal based approach. Specifically, current implementations rely on the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and the electrodermal response (EDR) as inputs into a traditional authentication scheme. The scientific basis for the deployment of biosignals resides principally on their uniqueness -for instance the theta power band in adults presents a phenotypic/genetic correlation of approximately 75%. The numbers are roughly the same for ECG, with an heritability correlation for the peak-to-peak (R-R interval) times of over 77%. For EDR, the results indicate that there is approximately a 50% heritability score (h2). The challenge with respect to cognitive biometrics based on biosignals is to enhance the information content of the acquired data. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.