A Comparison of SSVEP-Based BCI-Performance Between Different Age Groups

In this paper we compare the performance of a SSVEP-based BCI spelling application of two different equally sized age groups (five subjects each, ranging from 19 to 27 years and 66 to 70 years). Our results confirm that elderly people may have a slightly deteriorated information transfer rate (ITR). The mean (SD) ITR of the young age group was 27.18 (8.82) bit/min while the elderly people achieved an ITR of 14.42 (6.29) bit/min. The results show that the subject age must be taken into account during the development of a SSVEP-based application.

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