Do User-Centered Designed Paradigms for BCIs improve the Modulation of EEG Signals?

The aim of this project was to compare the level of modulation of the Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity achieved by naïve users under two paradigms: traditional (or Graz) and User-Centered Design (UCD), which represents a foundation concept and methodology for the anthropocentric perspective in Brain Computer Interfaces. Both approaches made use of the same motor task: imagination of throwing out a basketball into a basket. The task was performed during online brain-computer communication. To quantify and qualify the level of modulation of the EEG signals, Wavelet entropy was applied since is a nonlinear parameter that reveals the dynamic and non-stationary nature of EEG signals, in contrast to commonly used lineal methods. Results showed that UCD approaches improve the modulation of EEG signals by providing more attractive, efficient, stimulating and novel experiences; and the average performance increased from 52.7±0.028% (traditional paradigm) to 60.1±0.005% (UCD paradigm). The performance was almost 10% higher in UCD that in traditional approaches, despite that users posed the same motor imagery skills in line with Motor Imagery Questionnaire.