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OBJECTIVE: Motor imagery-based brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) systems hold promise in motor function rehabilitation and assistance for motor function impaired people. But the ability to operate an MI-BCI varies across subjects, which becomes a substantial problem for practical BCI applications beyond the laboratory. APPROACH: Several previous studies have demonstrated that individual MI-BCI performance is related to the resting state of brain. In this study, we further investigate offline MI-BCI performance variations through the perspective of resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) network. MAIN RESULTS: Spatial topologies and statistical measures of the network have close relationships with MI classification accuracy. Specifically, mean functional connectivity, node degrees, edge strengths, clustering coefficient, local efficiency and global efficiency are positively correlated with MI classification accuracy, whereas the characteristic path length is negatively correlated with MI classification accuracy. The above results indicate that an efficient background EEG network may facilitate MI-BCI performance. Finally, a multiple linear regression model was adopted to predict subjects' MI classification accuracy based on the efficiency measures of the resting-state EEG network, resulting in a reliable prediction. SIGNIFICANCE: This study reveals the network mechanisms of the MI-BCI and may help to find new strategies for improving MI-BCI performance.
Zhang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.