In infancy, the ability to tell the difference between two faces within a category (e.g., species, race) that is infrequently experienced declines from 6 to 9 months of age (Kelly et al., 2009, 2007; Pascalis et al., 2005; Pascalis, de Haan, & Nelson, 2002; Scott & Monesson, 2009). This decline in the ability to distinguish faces is known as "perceptual narrowing" and has recently been found to be absent when infants are given experience matching a face with an individual-level proper name between 6 to 9 months of age (Scott & Monesson, 2009). Additionally, individual-level experience between 6 and 9 months of age has led to neural changes at 9 months of age (Scott & Monesson, 2010). It is currently unclear whether brief, early experience between 6 and 9 months leads to sustained behavioral advantages and lasting neural changes. In order to answer these questions, the current study recruited and tested children who previously participated in a face training study when they were infants (Scott & Monesson, 2009, 2010). Findings revealed that individual-level experience with faces during the first year of life: 1) resulted in faster reaction time for faces outside of the trained category, and 2) led to more adult-like neural representations of faces outside of the trained category 3-4 years later. These results suggest that experience with individual-level learning in the first year of life is generalized to visually similar, but environmentally relevant face categories.

Objective An electroencephalographic brain–computer interface (BCI) can provide a non-muscular means of communication for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other neuromuscular disorders. We present a novel P300-based BCI stimulus presentation – the checkerboard paradigm (CBP). CBP performance is compared to that of the standard row/column paradigm (RCP) introduced by Farwell and Donchin (1988). Methods Using an 8 × 9 matrix of alphanumeric characters and keyboard commands, 18 participants used the CBP and RCP in counter-balanced fashion. With approximately 9–12 min of calibration data, we used a stepwise linear discriminant analysis for online classification of subsequent data. Results Mean online accuracy was significantly higher for the CBP, 92%, than for the RCP, 77%. Correcting for extra selections due to errors, mean bit rate was also significantly higher for the CBP, 23 bits/min, than for the RCP, 17 bits/min. Moreover, the two paradigms produced significantly different waveforms. Initial tests with three advanced ALS participants produced similar results. Furthermore, these individuals preferred the CBP to the RCP. Conclusions These results suggest that the CBP is markedly superior to the RCP in performance and user acceptability. Significance The CBP has the potential to provide a substantially more effective BCI than the RCP. This is especially important for people with severe neuromuscular disabilities.

Objective: The current study evaluates the efficacy of a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) communication device for individuals with advanced ALS. Methods: Participants attended to one cell of a N x N matrix while the N rows and N columns flashed randomly. Each cell of the matrix contained one character. Every flash of an attended character served as a rare event in an oddball sequence and elicited a P300 response. Classification coefficients derived using a stepwise linear discriminant function were applied to the data after each set of flashes. The character receiving the highest discriminant score was presented as feedback. Results: In Phase I, six participants used a 6 x 6 matrix on 12 separate days with a mean rate of 1.2 selections/min and mean online and offline accuracies of 62% and 82%, respectively. In Phase II, four participants used either a 6 x 6 or a 7 x 7 matrix to produce novel and spontaneous statements with a mean online rate of 2.1 selections/min and online accuracy of 79%. The amplitude and latency of the P300 remained stable over 40 weeks. Conclusions: Participants could communicate with the P300-based BCI and performance was stable over many months. Significance: BCIs could provide an alternative communication and control technology in the daily lives of people severely disabled by ALS.

This study examines the effects of expanding the classical P300 feature space on the classification performance of data collected from a P300 speller paradigm [Farwell LA, Donchin E. Talking off the top of your head: toward a mental prosthesis utilizing event-related brain potentials. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 1988;70:510-23]. Using stepwise linear discriminant analysis (SWLDA) to construct a classifier, the effects of spatial channel selection, channel referencing, data decimation, and maximum number of model features are compared with the intent of establishing a baseline not only for the SWLDA classifier, but for related P300 speller classification methods in general. By supplementing the classical P300 recording locations with posterior locations, online classification performance of P300 speller responses can be significantly improved using SWLDA and the favorable parameters derived from the offline comparative analysis.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) speller provides non-muscular communication via detection of EEG features. In a non-disabled population, a Checkerboard (CB) stimulus presentation has been shown to improve BCI performance over the standard Row/Column (RC) paradigm. Another improvement is a gray-to-color (CL) paradigm that presents perceptually-salient targets defined by nine unique colors. The current study examines the RC, CB, and CL paradigms in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) population (N = 7). Pilot data suggest improved performance of CB and CL over RC. The results suggest matrices including CB and CL provide more efficient communication and higher user satisfaction in an ALS population.

Brain-Computer Interface is an alternative method of communication. The present BCI operates via eventrelated potentials (ERPs) extracted from the electroencephalograph (EEG). Items (i.e., alphanumeric characters and keyboard commands) attended to by the subject should produce a P300 ERP; unattended items should not. Participants are assigned to either a Motivation condition or a Non-motivation condition. We hypothesized that performance on a copy spelling task will be affected by an individual’s motivation, or drive, to perform well. Before the BCI task is introduced to the subjects in the motivation condition, they are read a paragraph describing the importance of the task. Subjects in the non-motivation condition are introduced to the BCI task and begin the experiment. Mean accuracy in the motivation group was 93%, significantly higher than accuracy in the nonmotivation group, 84% (t < .001). These results show that motivation can be an important factor to successful BCI use. Motivation should be considered as a factor that will influence BCI performance in disabled populatio

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Since the introduction of the P300 BCI speller by Farwell and Donchin1 speed and accuracy of the system has been significantly improved. Larger electrode montages and various signal processing techniques are responsible for most of the improvement in performance. The present study takes advantage of a new presentation paradigm to improve performance, the “checkerboard?(CB) paradigm2. The CB presents quasi-random groups of six items instead of using the typical row/column presentation. To determine if reducing distraction from neighbouring items could improve subsequent performance on a copy-spelling task, the CB paradigm was used and compared to a condition that suppressed (i.e., did not flash) items during the calibration phase of the experiment.

Individuals affected by severe physical limitations, such as those caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or brainstem stroke, may not have the physical ability required to use clinically available augmentative and assistive communication systems. The P300 speller relies on the detection of responses elicited in EEG signals and has been used as a method of technology access for individuals with significant disability 1, 2. Our research focuses on improving P300 spellers in two areas: improved pattern recognition techniques and channel selection techniques for detecting P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) in the measured multi-channel EEG data, and optimal stimulus selection for improved efficiency and performance.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) provide communication that does not depend on neuromuscular activity. Several studies have demonstrated that those with advanced ALS can use noninvasive BCIs (e.g.,1,2,3). In able-bodied users, Townsend et al2 showed that a pseudorandom -or checkerboard paradigm (CBP) significantly improves P300-BCI performance compared to the standard or row/column paradigm (RCP). The CBP flashes stimuli in quasi-random groups that do not contain adjacent items, and it ensures at least six flashes between flashes of a given item. The combination of these two factors improves accuracy and bitrate. Townsend et al [2] also reported anecdotal improvements with the CBP in people with ALS who had extensive experience with the RCP. The present study seeks to verify these results in a larger group of people with ALS.