Sensor modalities for brain-computer interfacing

Abstract

Many people have neuromuscular conditions or disorders that impair the neural pathways that control muscles. Those most severely affected lose all voluntary muscle control and hence lose the ability to communicate. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) might be able to restore some communication or control functions for these people by creating a new communication channel - directly from the brain to an output device. Many studies over the past two decades have shown that such BCI communication is possible and that it can serve useful functions. This paper reviews the different sensor methodologies that have been explored in these studies. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.