A high-performance general computer cursor control scheme based on a hybrid BCI combining motor imagery and eye-tracking

Highlights•A hybrid non-invasive BCI system for general computer cursor control•Using self-determined sliding window approach for command decoding•"Desire factor" optimization method improves the stability of the cursor•High performance in classification task and cursor typing taskSummaryThis study introduces a novel virtual cursor control system designed to empower individuals with neuromuscular disabilities in the digital world. By combining eye-tracking with motor imagery (MI) in a hybrid brain-computer interface (BCI), the system enhances cursor control accuracy and simplicity. Real-time classification accuracy reaches 87.92% (peak of 93.33%), with cursor stability in the gazing state at 96.1%. Integrated into common operating systems, it enables tasks like text entry, online chatting, email, web surfing, and picture dragging, with an average text input rate of 53.2 characters per minute (CPM). This technology facilitates fundamental computing tasks for patients, fostering their integration into the online community and paving the way for future developments in BCI systems.