BCI Workshop - New Frontiers in Brain Computer Interfaces
Date and time
Location
Technion - Israel Institue of Technology
Department of Education Science and Technology Department's auditorium, floor #1 (down one floor from entrance) Haifa, Israel IsraelDescription
New Frontiers in BCI workshop
A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) provides a new communication channel between the human brain and a computer.
Mental activity involves electrical activity, and these electrophysiological signals can be recorded with techniques like the Electroencephalogram (EEG) or Electrocorticogram (ECoG).
The BCI system detects and classifies such changes and transforms them into control signals, which can be used for moving objects, writing letters, opening doors, changing TV channels and other everyday household activities.
This technology helps people with limited mobility increase their independence.
One of the main goals is to enable completely paralyzed patients (locked-in syndrome) to communicate with their environment.
Recent approaches also show a high potential for the use of BCI technology in motor rehabilitation (e.g. for stroke patients), for coma assessment and for communication with minimally conscious patients.
The workshop is hosted by Prof Miriam Reiner, head of the Virtual Reality and Neurocognition lab and will include:
Theoretical Part (40-60 min) by Gunther Kraus (g.tec):
- Introduction to the topic of Brain-Computer Interface
- Different methodological approaches and neuropsychological/physiological background
- Techniques for recording brain activity for BCI research and applications
- Possible applications for communication, patient assessment, rehabilitation and entertainment
- Limitations, assets and drawbacks of different applications
- State-of-the-art in BCI research/applications and future developments
Scientific lecturers (25-30 min each)
"Neurofeedback in enhancement of memory consolidation and intelligence" (25 min, prof. Miriam Reiner)
"Emerging Brain-inspired research directions for cognitive enhancement" (~30 min, Short PhD students' sessions - Rotem, Anat, Alex, Amit)
Practical Part (60 - 90 min) by Gunther Kraus (g.tec):
- Introduction to user-ready applications and to research environment for P300-speller, Motor-Imagery-BCI, or
SSVEP robot control
- Volunteers can participate in several BCI-life experiments
- Final discussion, Q/A