Real-Time Subject-Independent Pattern Classification of Overt and Covert Movements from fNIRS Signals

Neethu Robinson, Ali Danish Zaidi, Mohit Rana, Vinod A. Prasad, Cuntai Guan, Niels Birbaumer, Ranganatha Sitaram, Eleni Vasilaki
2016 PLoS ONE  
Recently, studies have reported the use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for developing Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) by applying online pattern classification of brain states from subject-specific fNIRS signals. The purpose of the present study was to develop and test a real-time method for subject-specific and subject-independent classification of multichannel fNIRS signals using support-vector machines (SVM), so as to determine its feasibility as an online neurofeedback system. Towards
more » ... his goal, we used left versus right hand movement execution and movement imagery as study paradigms in a series of experiments. In the first two experiments, activations in the motor cortex during movement execution and movement imagery were used to develop subject-dependent models that obtained high classification accuracies thereby indicating the robustness of our classification method. In the third experiment, a generalized classifier-model was developed from the first two experimental data, which was then applied for subject-independent neurofeedback training. Application of this method in new participants showed mean classification accuracy of 63% for movement imagery tasks and 80% for movement execution tasks. These results, and their corresponding offline analysis reported in this study demonstrate that SVM based realtime subject-independent classification of fNIRS signals is feasible. This method has important applications in the field of hemodynamic BCIs, and neuro-rehabilitation where patients can be trained to learn spatio-temporal patterns of healthy brain activity.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159959 pmid:27467528 pmcid:PMC4965045 fatcat:j3mkik4ejngoroaw47jlg5dheu