Brain Interface Design for Asynchronous Control

The concept of self-paced control has recently emerged from within the general field of brain-computer interface research. The use of assistive devices in real-world environments is best served by interfaces operated in an asynchronous manner. This self-paced or asynchronous mode of device control is more natural than the more commonly studied synchronized control mode whereby the system dictates the control of the user. The Neil Squire Society develops asynchronous, direct brain-switches for self-paced control applications. Our latest switch design operated with a mean activation rate of 73 percent and false positive error rates of 2 percent. This report provides an introduction to asynchronous control, summarizes our results to date, and details some key issues that specifically relate to brain interface design for asynchronous control.