Effectiveness of subject specific instruction on mu-based brain-computer interface training

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is a growing field, becoming a more viable aid for individuals who have lost voluntary motor control. The mu rhythm, a sensorimotor rhythm that is suppressed when one imagines motor activity (Event Related Desychronization [ERD]), has been particularly utilized in BCIs because of its potential for diverse applications. This study aimed to improve participants' BCI performance by giving them specific instructions for imagine motor behavior to improve their control over sustained mu power. Participants were provided with instructions that were either non-specific (NS), specific (SP), or participant specific (PS) to imagine motor behavior. The ability to control the strength of the mu rhythm was studied by using a simple feedback based paradigm and a novel BCI targeting game. The results showed that utilizing specific instructions for mu-based BCI systems can lead to decreased training time, increased BCI literacy, and enhanced control over mu-based BCI devices. These results suggest that instruction type can make mu-based BCI devices more accessible to individuals with impaired motor behavior.