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Discrimination of left and right leg motor imagery for brain–computer interfaces

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Abstract

This article reports on a study to identify electroencephalography (EEG) signals with potential to provide new BCI channels through mental motor imagery (MMI). Leg motion was assessed to see if left and right leg MMI could be discriminated in the EEG. The study also explored simultaneous observation of leg movement as a means to enhance MMI evoked EEG signals. The results demonstrate that MMI of the left and right leg produce a contralateral preponderance of EEG alpha band desynchronization, which can be spatially discriminated. This suggests that lower extremity MMI could provide signals for additional BCI channels. The study also shows that movement imitation enhances alpha band desynchronization during MMI, and might provide a useful aid in the identification and training of BCI signals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Resource Ltd., Level 12, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Peter Boord

  2. Rehabilitation Studies Unit, University of Sydney, 59 Charles Street, Ryde, NSW, 2112, Australia

    Ashley Craig & Yvonne Tran

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Hung Nguyen

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  1. Peter Boord
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  2. Ashley Craig
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  3. Yvonne Tran
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  4. Hung Nguyen
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Correspondence to Peter Boord.

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Boord, P., Craig, A., Tran, Y. et al. Discrimination of left and right leg motor imagery for brain–computer interfaces. Med Biol Eng Comput 48, 343–350 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0579-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0579-0

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