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.