Brain Computer Interfaces: How they Work and How to Build one

label Diverse autorenew 2025-09-29, 17:01 history_edu Maria Dumitru
With the advent of cutting-edge technologies, we have developed new ways to measure human brain activity. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. BCIs allow us to detect cognitive and sensory-motor functions such as phantom limb movements, selective attention and sleep patterns. A computer, programmed to detect these states, can help the user learn to distinguish speech sounds in a new language or help a fully paralyzed user communicate with the outside world.This rapidly emerging field is highly interdisciplinary in nature and draws on expertise in the fields of neuroscience, computer science, cognition, artificial intelligence, user interface design and psychology. This course will start with a general tutorial-style introduction to how BCIs work, followed by student projects in small interdisciplinary groups. These projects will each aim to build a fully functioning BCI within one week in the application domain of your choice. We will cover a range of different topics during the course in the form of lectures, discussions and practical and theoretical learning methods. These will be offered in collaboration with the Department of Artificial Intelligence and the Cognitive Neuroscience Research Master. The course will start with an introduction to BCIs, brain properties and brain signals. We will then move on to evoked BCIs (such as the visual matrix speller and steady-state response BCIs), induced BCIs (such as movement-based BCIs and covert-attention BCIs) and haemodynamic response BCIs. The second half of the week will cover broader social impact of BCIs and the future possibilities they offer. You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with all the BCIs discussed. Further, you will work in small interdisciplinary groups on a project to build a fully functioning BCI during the school. The course ends with the group project presentations and demonstrations.

Period
04-08-2014 - 08-08-2014 (1 weeks)

Target group
Students with a keen interest in the new possibilities of intimately coupling the brain and computer, with applications for healthy users (e.g. games) and for patients (e.g. prosthetic devices).Entry level:Some programming experience is needed, preferably in Matlab signal processing. A few years into Psychology, Computer Science, AI, Neuroscience or a related study. This setup allows for advanced projects at the masters level.

Course aim
After this course you will be able to:1. Understand the EEG signals that can be detected as markers of mental activity 2. Apply machine learning techniques to brain signals and build a functioning brain-computer interface3. Understand the basics of how brain signals are measured 4. Discuss the developments and the future of this field



Credits
2.0 ECTS credits

Course fee
EUR 400[Convert to USD]The course fee includes the registration fee, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities. The fee does not include accommodation, travel costs, dinner, insurance and other costs. Discounts10% discount for early bird applicants. The early bird deadline is 1 April 2014.15% discount for students and PhD candidates from Radboud University and partner universities

Course leader
Dr. J.D.R. (Jason) Farquhar, Assistant Professor Prof. Dr. Ir. P.W.M (Peter) Desain, Professor Artificial Intelligence, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

Radboud University
Address: P.O Box 9102 Nijmegen
Postal code: 6500 HC
City: Nijmegen
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/
E-mail: radboudsummerschool@ru.nl
Phone: +31 (0)24 8187706