Wearable Brain-Computer Interface Instrumentation for Robot-Based Rehabilitation by Augmented Reality

• Published in: IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement Vol. 69; no. 9; pp. 6362 - 6371
• Main Authors: Arpaia, Pasquale, Duraccio, Luigi, Moccaldi, Nicola, Rossi, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.09.2020; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Augmented reality; Augmented reality (AR); brain-computer interfaces; Control equipment; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; Glass; Human-computer interface; Information transfer; Instruments; Positive feedback; Rehabilitation; rehabilitation robotics; Rehabilitation robots; Remote control; Robot control; Robot sensing systems; Robots; smart devices; Visual stimuli; Visualization; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 0018-9456; 1557-9662
• DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2020.2970846

An instrument for remote control of the robot by wearable brain-computer interface (BCI) is proposed for rehabilitating children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Augmented reality (AR) glasses generate flickering stimuli, and a single-channel electroencephalographic BCI detects the elicited steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs). This allows benefiting from the SSVEP robustness by leaving available the view of robot movements. Together with the lack of training, a single channel maximizes the device's wearability, fundamental for the acceptance by ADHD children. Effectively controlling the movements of a robot through a new channel enhances rehabilitation engagement and effectiveness. A case study at an accredited rehabilitation center on ten healthy adult subjects highlighted an average accuracy higher than 83%, with information transfer rate (ITR) up to 39 b/min. Preliminary further tests on four ADHD patients between six- and eight-years old provided highly positive feedback on device acceptance and attentional performance.