A Survey of Stimulation Methods Used in SSVEP-Based BCIs

• Published in: Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience Vol. 2010; no. 2010; pp. 239 - 250
• Main Authors: Zhu, Danhua, Bieger, Jordi, Garcia Molina, Gary, Aarts, Ronald M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 2010; Hindawi Puplishing Corporation; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Accuracy; Brain; Brain - physiology; Computers - standards; Computers - trends; Electroencephalography - methods; Equipment Design - methods; Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology; Humans; Light emitting diodes; Mental Processes - physiology; Photic Stimulation - methods; Review; Signal processing; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Software; User-Computer Interface; Visual Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 1687-5265; 1687-5273
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/702357

Brain-computer interface (BCI) systems based on the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) provide higher information throughput and require shorter training than BCI systems using other brain signals. To elicit an SSVEP, a repetitive visual stimulus (RVS) has to be presented to the user. The RVS can be rendered on a computer screen by alternating graphical patterns, or with external light sources able to emit modulated light. The properties of an RVS (e.g., frequency, color) depend on the rendering device and influence the SSVEP characteristics. This affects the BCI information throughput and the levels of user safety and comfort. Literature on SSVEP-based BCIs does not generally provide reasons for the selection of the used rendering devices or RVS properties. In this paper, we review the literature on SSVEP-based BCIs and comprehensively report on the different RVS choices in terms of rendering devices, properties, and their potential influence on BCI performance, user safety and comfort.