Grid stimulation with ultra-low stimulation proportions of 0.94% and 2.10% at 3-5 Hz, and 2.10% up to 15 Hz, provided an optimal balance between BCI performance and user experience.
Does grid stimulation with a low proportion of stimulation area improve user experience while maintaining performance in SSVEP-based BCIs?
Ultra-low stimulation proportion paradigms in grid stimuli can evoke strong SSVEP responses while effectively enhancing user experience in BCI systems.
Abstract Objective. Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) rely on the photic driving response to encode electroencephalogram (EEG) signals stably and efficiently. However, the user experience of the traditional stimulation with high-contrast flickers urgently needs to be improved. In this study, we introduce a novel paradigm of grid stimulation with weak flickering perception, distinguished by a markedly lower proportion of stimulation area in the overall pattern. Approach. In an offline single-target experiment, we investigated the unique characteristics of SSVEPs evoked by varying proportions in grid stimuli within low and medium frequency bands. Based on the analysis of simulation performance across a four-class brain–computer interface (BCI) task and the evaluation of user experience questionnaires, a subset of paradigms that balance performance and comfort were selected for implementation in four-target online BCI systems. Main results. Our results demonstrate that even ultra-low stimulation proportion paradigms can still evoke strong responses within specific frequency bands, effectively enhancing user experience with low and middle frequency stimuli. Notably, proportions of 0.94% and 2.10% within the 3–5 Hz range provide an optimal balance between performance and user experience. For frequencies extending up to 15 Hz, a 2.10% proportion remains ideal. At 20 Hz, slightly higher proportions of 3.75% and 8.43% maintain these benefits. Significance. These findings are crucial for advancing the development of effective and user-friendly SSVEP-based BCI systems.
Gu et al. (Tue,) reported a other. Grid stimulation with varying proportions of stimulation area was evaluated on SSVEP response, BCI performance, and user experience. Grid stimulation with ultra-low stimulation proportions of 0.94% and 2.10% at 3-5 Hz, and 2.10% up to 15 Hz, provided an optimal balance between BCI performance and user experience.
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