A brain-machine interface (BMI) is a system that allows the communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and an external device (Wolpaw et al. 2002). Applications of BMIs include the control of external prostheses, cursors and spellers, to name a few. The BMIs developed by various research groups differ in their characteristics (e.g. continuous or discrete, synchronous or asynchronous, degrees of freedom, others) and, in spite of several initiatives towards standardization and guidelines, the cross comparison across studies remains a challenge (Brunner et al. 2015; Thompson et al. 2014). Here, we used a 64-channel EEG equipment to acquire data from 19 healthy participants during three different tasks (SSVEP, P300 and hybrid) that allowed four choices to the user and required no previous neurofeedback training. We systematically compared the offline performance of the three tasks on the following parameters: a) accuracy, b) information transfer rate, c) illiteracy/inefficiency, and d) individual preferences. Additionally, we selected the best performing channels per task and evaluated the accuracy as a function of the number of electrodes. Our results demonstrate that the SSVEP task outperforms the other tasks in accuracy, ITR and illiteracy/inefficiency, reaching an average ITR** of 52,8 bits/min and a maximum ITR** of 104,2 bits/min. Additionally, all participants achieved an accuracy level above 70% (illiteracy/inefficiency threshold) in both SSVEP and P300 tasks. Furthermore, the average accuracy of all tasks did not deteriorate if a reduced set with only the 8 best performing electrodes were used. These results are relevant for the development of online BMIs, including aspects related to usability, user satisfaction and portability. / A interface cérebro-máquina (ICM) é um sistema que permite a comunicação entre o sistema nervoso central e um dispositivo externo (Wolpaw et al., 2002). Aplicações de ICMs incluem o controle de próteses externa, cursores e teclados virtuais, para citar alguns. As ICMs desenvolvidas por vários grupos de pesquisa diferem em suas características (por exemplo, contínua ou discreta, síncrona ou assíncrona, graus de liberdade, outras) e, apesar de várias iniciativas voltadas para diretrizes de padronização, a comparação entre os estudos continua desafiadora (Brunner et al. 2015, Thompson et al., 2014). Aqui, utilizamos um equipamento EEG de 64 canais para adquirir dados de 19 participantes saudáveis ao longo da execução de três diferentes tarefas (SSVEP, P300 e híbrida) que permitiram quatro escolhas ao usuário e não exigiram nenhum treinamento prévio. Comparamos sistematicamente o desempenho \"off-line\" das três tarefas nos seguintes parâmetros: a) acurácia, b) taxa de transferência de informação, c) analfabetismo / ineficiência e d) preferências individuais. Além disso, selecionamos os melhores canais por tarefa e avaliamos a acurácia em função do número de eletrodos. Nossos resultados demonstraram que a tarefa SSVEP superou as demais em acurácia, ITR e analfabetismo/ineficiência, atingindo um ITR** médio de 52,8 bits/min e um ITR** máximo de 104,2 bits/min. Adicionalmente, todos os participantes alcançaram um nível de acurácia acima de 70% (limiar de analfabetismo/ineficiência) nas tarefas SSVEP e P300. Além disso, a acurácia média de todas as tarefas não se deteriorou ao se utilizar um conjunto reduzido composto apenas pelos melhores 8 eletrodos. Estes resultados são relevantes para o desenvolvimento de ICMs \"online\", incluindo aspectos relacionados à usabilidade, satisfação do usuário e portabilidade.

A brain-machine interface (BMI) is a system that allows the communication between the central nervous system (CNS) and an external device (Wolpaw et al. 2002). Applications of BMIs include the control of external prostheses, cursors and spellers, to name a few. The BMIs developed by various research groups differ in their characteristics (e.g. continuous or discrete, synchronous or asynchronous, degrees of freedom, others) and, in spite of several initiatives towards standardization and guidelines, the cross comparison across studies remains a challenge (Brunner et al. 2015; Thompson et al. 2014). Here, we used a 64-channel EEG equipment to acquire data from 19 healthy participants during three different tasks (SSVEP, P300 and hybrid) that allowed four choices to the user and required no previous neurofeedback training. We systematically compared the offline performance of the three tasks on the following parameters: a) accuracy, b) information transfer rate, c) illiteracy/inefficiency, and d) individual preferences. Additionally, we selected the best performing channels per task and evaluated the accuracy as a function of the number of electrodes. Our results demonstrate that the SSVEP task outperforms the other tasks in accuracy, ITR and illiteracy/inefficiency, reaching an average ITR** of 52,8 bits/min and a maximum ITR** of 104,2 bits/min. Additionally, all participants achieved an accuracy level above 70% (illiteracy/inefficiency threshold) in both SSVEP and P300 tasks. Furthermore, the average accuracy of all tasks did not deteriorate if a reduced set with only the 8 best performing electrodes were used. These results are relevant for the development of online BMIs, including aspects related to usability, user satisfaction and portability. / A interface cérebro-máquina (ICM) é um sistema que permite a comunicação entre o sistema nervoso central e um dispositivo externo (Wolpaw et al., 2002). Aplicações de ICMs incluem o controle de próteses externa, cursores e teclados virtuais, para citar alguns. As ICMs desenvolvidas por vários grupos de pesquisa diferem em suas características (por exemplo, contínua ou discreta, síncrona ou assíncrona, graus de liberdade, outras) e, apesar de várias iniciativas voltadas para diretrizes de padronização, a comparação entre os estudos continua desafiadora (Brunner et al. 2015, Thompson et al., 2014). Aqui, utilizamos um equipamento EEG de 64 canais para adquirir dados de 19 participantes saudáveis ao longo da execução de três diferentes tarefas (SSVEP, P300 e híbrida) que permitiram quatro escolhas ao usuário e não exigiram nenhum treinamento prévio. Comparamos sistematicamente o desempenho \"off-line\" das três tarefas nos seguintes parâmetros: a) acurácia, b) taxa de transferência de informação, c) analfabetismo / ineficiência e d) preferências individuais. Além disso, selecionamos os melhores canais por tarefa e avaliamos a acurácia em função do número de eletrodos. Nossos resultados demonstraram que a tarefa SSVEP superou as demais em acurácia, ITR e analfabetismo/ineficiência, atingindo um ITR** médio de 52,8 bits/min e um ITR** máximo de 104,2 bits/min. Adicionalmente, todos os participantes alcançaram um nível de acurácia acima de 70% (limiar de analfabetismo/ineficiência) nas tarefas SSVEP e P300. Além disso, a acurácia média de todas as tarefas não se deteriorou ao se utilizar um conjunto reduzido composto apenas pelos melhores 8 eletrodos. Estes resultados são relevantes para o desenvolvimento de ICMs \"online\", incluindo aspectos relacionados à usabilidade, satisfação do usuário e portabilidade.

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, mittels des Aufgabenwechselparadigmas, kognitive Prozesse nicht nur anhand von traditionellen Leistungsparametern, sondern zusätzlich durch elektro-physiologische Parameter zu untersuchen. Parameter ereigniskorrelierter Hirnpotentiale (EKP) wurden ebenfalls zur Einschätzung von altersbedingten Änderungen bei der Ausführung von Reaktionszeitaufgaben herangezogen.<br> Nach Rubinstein et al. (2001) setzt sich die Reaktionszeit aus der Dauer seriell angeordneter Verarbeitungsstufen zusammen. Im Stufenmodell der exekutiven Kontrolle von Rubinstein et al. (2001) sind Prozesse der ausführenden Kontrolle nur an Wechseltrials beteiligt und können getrennt von den Aufgabenprozessen ablaufen. Mittels der Informationen zu den Reaktionszeiten ist es jedoch nicht möglich zu klären, auf welche kognitiven Verarbeitungsprozesse Reaktionszeitunterschiede unter den jeweiligen experimentellen Bedingungen zurückzuführen sind. Zur Analyse der kognitiven Prozesse wurden in dieser Untersuchung die CNV und P300 herangezogen. Es wurden zwei Altersgruppen (20-30 Jährige und 49-61 Jährige) untersucht. Den Probanden wurden Ziffern präsentiert, die entweder nach dem numerischen Wert oder der Schriftgröße mit dem Hinweisreiz, der Zahl 5, verglichen werden sollten. Die Stimuli wurden nach dem Alternating-Runs-Paradigma dargeboten (Rogers und Monsell, 1995).<br> Erwartungsgemäß gab es Reaktionszeitunterschiede zwischen alt und jung mit längeren Reaktionszeiten für die älteren Probanden. Altersunterschiede in den Fehlerraten ließen sich nicht nachweisen. Möglicherweise erfolgte die Reaktionsauswahl bei den Älteren überlegter aus als bei den Jüngeren. Dies spiegelte sich in längeren aber fehlerfreien Reaktionen wider. Vermutlich bereiteten jedoch alle Probanden in dem Intervall zwischen Cue und Stimulus das jeweilige Aufgabenset komplett vor. Das könnte auch erklären, warum es bei einem Aufgabenwechsel nicht zu einem Anstieg der Reaktionszeit und der Fehlerrate kam. Entgegen der Erwartung zeigten sich keine Wechselkosten. Teilweise wurden inverse Wechselkosten nachgewiesen. In Bezug auf die Wechselkosten konnte das Stufenmodell der exekutiven Kontrolle (Rubinstein et al., 2001) nicht bestätigt werden. Der explizite Hinweisreiz scheint allerdings Einfluss auf die Wechselkosten zu haben. Verschiedene Erklärungsansätze werden diskutiert.<br> Die Contingent Negative Variation ist wie erwartet vor einem Aufgabenwechsel größer als vor einer Aufgabenwiederholung. Durch den Hinweisreiz ist eine erhöhte Kapazität vorhanden. Entsprechend den Ergebnissen der CNV kann davon ausgegangen werden, dass ältere Erwachsene stärker von der Vorinformation zu profitieren scheinen als jüngere Erwachsene. Die älteren Erwachsenen beginnen im Gegensatz zu den jüngeren Erwachsenen offenbar eher mit der Vorbereitung. Zeitdruck und Aufgabenwechsel lösen eine stärkere P300 aus. Demzufolge scheinen Zeitdruck und Aufgabenwechsel einen erhöhten Kapazitätsbedarf zu erfordern. Im Sinne des Stufenmodells der exekutiven Kontrolle von Rubinstein et al. (2001) führt die Zielverschiebung bei einem Aufgabenwechsel zu einer größeren P300. Die Resultate der hier dargestellten Untersuchungen verdeutlichen, dass ältere Erwachsene einen höheren zeitlichen Aufwand in den Stufen der einzelnen exekutiven Prozesse benötigen. Dies spricht für die Hypothese der selektiven Verlangsamung. Ältere kompensieren dies durch einen höheren Aufwand in der Vorbereitung, was auf elektrokortikaler Ebene nachweisbar ist, sind aber nicht in der Lage, dies in den Reaktionszeiten umzusetzen.<br> Die Ergebnisse dieser Untersuchung unterstützen die vereinfachte Annahme von Rubinstein et al. (2001), nach dem die Teilprozesse der Reaktionszeit seriell verarbeitet werden können. Die Resultate lassen allerdings den Schluss zu, dass die Wechselkosten im Hinblick auf die Reaktionszeiten nicht der geeignete Parameter für die Messung der exekutiven Kontrolle sind.<br> Die vorgeschlagene Modifikation des Modells von Rubinstein et al. (2001) in der Vorbereitung auf eine Aufgabe gilt es in weiteren Untersuchungen zu bestätigen und die Möglichkeit der Anwendung auf alle Aspekte der exekutiven Kontrollprozesse zu prüfen. / The aim of this study was it to examine cognitive processes not only on the basis achievement parameters by means of the alternating runs paradigm, but additionally by electricalphysiological parameters. Parameters of event-correlated brain potentials (EKP) were also used to estimate age-related changes in tasks of response time.<br> According to Rubinstein et al. (2001) the response time consists of the duration of serially arranged processing levels. In Rubinstein's et al. (2001) stage model of the executive control processes of implementing control are involved only in switch trials and can run separately from the task processes. The information from response times do not aloud to define what cognitive processing processes are responsible for response time differences in respective to the experimental conditions. In this study the contingent negative variation (CNV) and P300 were used for the analysis of the cognitive processes.<br> Two age groups (20 to 30, and 49 to 61 years old) were included in the study. Numbers were presented, which should be compared to the cue number 5 either to the numeric value or character size. The stimuli were represented after the alternating runs paradigm (Rogers & Monsell, 1995).<br> As expected there were response time differences between old and young subjects with longer response times for the older ones. Age differences in the error rates could not be proven. It is possible that the reaction selection in older ones took place with more consideration than in the younger ones. This is reflected in longer but error free reactions. Probably all subjects prepared in the interval the respective task set between cue and stimulus completely. This could also explain, why with a task switching no rise of the response time and the error rate was noticed. Against expectation no switch costs showed up. Inverse switch costs were partly proven. Regarding the switch costs the stage model of the executive control (Rubinstein et al., 2001) could not be confirmed. The explicit cue however seems to have influence on the switch costs. Different explanations are discussed.<br> The contingent negative variation is higher before a task switching than before a repetition of task. By the cue an increased capacity is presented. According to the results of the CNV it can be assumed that older adults seem to profit more strongly than younger adults from the advance information. Obviously the older adults begin earlier with the preparation than the younger ones. Time pressure and task switching release a stronger P300. Therefore time pressure and task switching seem to require an increased capacity need. According to the stage model of the executive control (Rubinstein et al., (2001) the goal shift with goes along with the task switching leads to a higher P300.<br> The results of the study represented here clarify, that older adults need a more time in the stages of the individual executives of processes. This underlines the hypothesis of the selective slowing down. Older ones compensate this by more effort to preparation, which can be proven on the electrocortical level. The are not able to show this in the the response times, though. The results of this study support the simplified acceptance of Rubinstein et al. (2001), after which the subprocesses of the response time can be processed serially.<br> The results permit the conclusion that the switch costs regarding the response times are not the adaquate parameter for the measurement of the executive control.<br> The suggested modification of the model of Rubinstein et al. (2001) in the preparation for a task it applies to be confirmed in further investigations and the possibility of application to all aspects of the executives has to be tested.

Le p300/CBP acétyltransférase est un co-activateur transcriptionnel très important qui est impliqué dans la régulation d'un grand nombre de processus biologiques, comme la transcription d'ADN, le développement et l'immunité innée. Jusqu'à présent, le rôle de p300/CBP dans la régulation de l'expression des gènes a été largement étudiée, mais les mécanismes qui régulent son activité enzymatique sont encore peu connus. Des études ont montré que le dysfonctionnement de p300/CBP est associé à plusieurs formes de cancer et de maladies neurodégénératives. Dés lors, chaque progrès concernant les mécanismes de régulation de p300/CBP est devenu primordial pour le développement de nouvelles thérapies. Le 'noyau' de p300/CBP contient deux domaines pour la reconnaissance des modifications post-traductionnelles (MPTs), un bromodomaine et un PHD finger (le module BP), adjacent à un domaine HAT (ou domaine histone acétyltransférase). Plusieurs enzymes, modifiant la chromatine, contiennent des domaines de reconnaissance des MPTs. Fréquemment des groupements particuliers de ces domaines sont très conservés et liés, au sein de la même protéine ou du même complexe protéique, suggérant qu'ils réalisent des fonctions coordonnées. Ces domaines adjacents peuvent agir en concertation dans la reconnaissance simultanée de différents MPTs ou peuvent exercer des fonctions différentes de celles qui sont effectuées par ces deux domaines particuliers, tels que les fonctions de régulation enzymatique. Plusieurs études suggèrent que les cycles acétylation/désacétylation dans la boucle d'auto-inhibition, à l'intérieur du domaine HAT, jouent un rôle important dans la régulation de l'activité enzymatique de p300/CBP. La proximité du module BP et du domaine HAT suggère que la spécificité de liaison, appartenant au module BP, peut être intrinsèquement liée à la régulation de l'activité du domaine HAT. L'objectif de ma thèse est de déterminer le rôle du module BP dans la régulation de l'activité du domaine HAT. Je propose que le module BP soit impliqué dans la régulation de p300/CBP de deux façons. La première consiste à établir un lien avec le domaine HAT qui stabilise la conformation auto-inhibée de l'enzyme. La deuxième exige que le module BP joue un rôle dans le choix des substrats de p300/CBP. J'ai été en mesure de montrer que BP peut se lier au domaine HAT et à la chromatine modifiée et qu'il peut reconnaître les modifications effectuées par p300/CBP lui-même. Les données obtenues indiquent que le module BP peut être impliqué dans la régulation de l'activité de p300/CBP et dans son ciblage à la chromatine.

Concussions are a common type of traumatic brain injury resulting in a series of physical, emotional, and psychosocial symptoms. Following a concussion, emotional processing is thought to be altered through small functional and structural disruptions that impact information processing pathways, which may eventually manifest as behavioral impairments. Thus, the use of both behavioral and functional outcomes may be effective for assessing the changes in emotional processing that may occur following a concussion. The primary purpose of this study was to examine behavioral and neurocognitive differences in response to emotional face images between individuals with and without a history of concussion. Fifty participants (18 female; 32 male) were recruited and assigned to either the concussed (n = 23; Mage = 24.1 ± 1.0) or non-concussed (n = 27; Mage = 23.2 ± 0.6) group based on medical and self-reported concussion history. Participants completed a modified emotional oddball paradigm where representative positive (smiling), negative (frowning), and neutral faces from the Radboud Faces Database were displayed. Neuroelectric measures of P3 amplitude and latency, as well as behavioral measures of response accuracy and reaction time were assessed during the experiment. The concussion group showed significant reductions in accuracy, but no difference in reaction time compared to the non-concussed group. An increase (i.e., slower) in P3 latency was also found in the concussed group, with no observed group differences in P3 amplitude. Findings suggest that concussions may lead to chronic neuroelectric and behavioral deficits in classifying emotional, facial expressions.

In the present study, the influence of morphosyntactic aspects of L1 and L2 on L3 comprehension is investigated using ERP (Event-Related Brain Potentials). The study examines the processing of verb and gender agreement incongruences in Spanish by native Swedish speakers that are fluent in English and learning Spanish, in comparison to a control group of native Spanish speakers. The study investigates the relevance of morphosyntactic transfer from L1 and/or L2 to L3, as well as language processing in third language acquisition. Language acquisition is considered as an individual process, different in acquisition of the first, second and third language. EEG (Electrocephalograpy) had been used in the present study to examine the processing of verb and gender agreement. Different views on L3 learning have been shown in previous studies according to whether L1 or L2 have a stronger influence on the acquisition of L3. Regarding native like processing of language, the study showed that L3 learners process language differently in comparison with native like speakers. In particular, adjective agreement engender a specific brain reaction (a P300) in L3 learners only and not in L1 speakers. Verb agreement, on the other hand, do not engender the P300 in any of the of the groups. The P300 effect is related to strategic processing of language, which leads to the possibility of considering that the morphosyntactic transfer of their first language (Swedish) to the third language is processed in a less automatic mode than L2 (English).

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No description available.

Substantial research has been done on the electroencephalogram (EEG) neural signals generated by feedback within a simple choice task, and there is much evidence for the existence of a reward prediction error signal generated in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain when the outcome of this type of choice does not match expectations. However, less research has been done to date on the neural responses to intermediate outcomes in a multi-step choice task. Here, I investigated the neural signals generated by a complex, non-deterministic task that involved multiple choices before final win/loss feedback in order to see if the observed signals correspond to predictions made by reinforcement learning theory. In Experiment One, I conducted an EEG experiment to record neural signals while participants performed a computerized task designed to elicit the reward positivity, an event-related brain potential (ERP) component thought to be a biological reward prediction error signal. EEG results revealed a difference in amplitude of the reward positivity ERP component between experimental conditions comparing unexpected to expected feedback, as well as an interaction between valence and expectancy of the feedback. Additionally, results of an ERP analysis of the amplitude of the P300 component also showed an interaction between valence and expectancy. In Experiment Two, I used machine learning to classify epoched EEG data from Experiment One into experimental conditions to determine if individual states within the task could be differentiated based solely on the EEG data. My results showed that individual states could be differentiated with above-chance accuracy. I conclude by discussing how these results fit with the predictions made by reinforcement learning theory about the type of task investigated herein, and implications of those findings on our understanding of learning and decision-making in humans. / Graduate

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) might restore communication to people severely disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other disorders. We sought to: 1) define a protocol for determining whether a person with ALS can use a visual P300-based BCI; 2) determine what proportion of this population can use the BCI; and 3) identify factors affecting BCI performance. Twenty-five individuals with ALS completed an evaluation protocol using a standard 6 × 6 matrix and parameters selected by stepwise linear discrimination. With an 8-channel EEG montage, the subjects fell into two groups in BCI accuracy (chance accuracy 3%). Seventeen averaged 92 (± 3)% (range 71-100%), which is adequate for communication (G70 group). Eight averaged 12 (± 6)% (range 0-36%), inadequate for communication (L40 subject group). Performance did not correlate with disability: 11/17 (65%) of G70 subjects were severely disabled (i.e. ALSFRS-R < 5). All L40 subjects had visual impairments (e.g. nystagmus, diplopia, ptosis). P300 was larger and more anterior in G70 subjects. A 16-channel montage did not significantly improve accuracy. In conclusion, most people severely disabled by ALS could use a visual P300-based BCI for communication. In those who could not, visual impairment was the principal obstacle. For these individuals, auditory P300-based BCIs might be effective.