Decoding brain-computer interfaces

Neuroengineering Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can help humans with compromised motor function by using their brain activity to externally control movements. Existing methods, however, require extensive user training and effort. Ganesh et al. developed a BCI technique for decoding sensorimotor prediction errors that requires less user energy. It subliminally stimulates the user to think about an activity and then, instead of decoding what movement a user intends, decodes whether the movement that the user wants matches the sensory feedback that the stimulator induced. In 12 healthy individuals performing a wheelchair-turning task, this interface represented movements speedily (within 96 milliseconds) and without any training. Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aaq0183 (2018).