Gaming the Attention with a SSVEP-Based Brain-Computer Interface

Abstract

Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) have been widely used in neuroscience for the characterization of dynamic processes from the retina to the visual cortex. In Neuro-engineering, SSVEP-based Brain-computer Interfaces (SSVEP-BCIs) have been used in variety of applications (e. g., communication, entertainment, etc.) for the detection of attention to visual stimuli. In this work, we propose a hands-free videogame in which the player joystick is a SSVEP-BCI. In the videogame, hostile avatars fire weapons against the player who could deflect them if enough attention is exerted. Attention is detected based on the analysis of SSVEP and Alphaband powers. For this purpose, weapons are mobile checkerboards that flicker at a constant frequency. We presented this videogame as a demo in a technologic event for students of engineering who freely tried it. The main findings were: (i) the attention detection algorithm based on SSVEPs is robust enough to be performed in few seconds even with mobile visual stimuli and in a non-isolated room; (ii) the videogame is capable to dose and quantify the amount of cognitive attention that a player exerts on mobile stimuli by controlling their time and position. The results suggest that this videogame could be used as a serious game to play/train the attentional and visual tracking capabilities with direct application in Special Needs Education or in attention disorders.