BRAIN MACHINE INTERFACE

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ABSTRACT

A brain-machine interface is a communication system that does not depend on the brains normal output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles. It is a new communication link between a functioning human brain and the outside world.These are electronic interfaces with the brain, which has the ability to send and receive signals from the brain. BMI uses brain activity to command, control, actuate and communicate with the world directly through brain integration with peripheral devices and systems. The signals from the brain are taken to the computer via the implants for data entry without any direct brain intervention. BMI transforms mental decisions and/or reactions into control signals by analyzing the bioelectrical brain activity.

1. INTRODUCTION

Picture a time when humans see in the UV and IR portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, or hear speech on the noisy flight deck of an aircraft carrier; or when soldiers communicate by thought alone. Imagine a time when the human brain has its own wireless modem so that instead of acting on thoughts, war fighters have thoughts that act. Imagine that one day we will be able to download vast amounts of knowledge directly to our brain! So as to cut the lengthy processes of learning everything from scratch. Instead of paying to go to university we could pay to get a "knowledge implant" and perhaps be able to obtain many lifetimes worth of knowledge and expertise in various fields at a young age.

When we talk about high end computing and intelligent interfaces, we just cannot ignore robotics and artificial intelligence. In the near future, most devices would be remote/logically controlled. Researchers are close to breakthroughs in neural interfaces, meaning we could soon mesh our minds with machines. This technology has the capability to impact our lives in ways that have been previously thought possible in only sci-fi movies.

Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) is a communication system, which enables the user to control special computer applications by using only his or her thoughts. It will allow human brain to accept and control a mechanical device as a part of the body. Data can flow from brain to the outside machinery, or to brain from the outside machinery. Different research groups have examined and used different methods to achieve this. Almost all of them are based on electroencephalography (EEG) recorded from the scalp. Our major goal of such research is to create a system that allow patients who have damaged their sensory/motor nerves severely to activate outside mechanisms by using brain signals.

Cyberkinetics Inc, a leader in neurotechnology has developed the first implantable brain-machine interface that can reliably interpret brain signals and perhaps read decisions made in the brain to develop a fast, reliable and unobtrusive connection between the brain of severely disabled person to a personal computer.

2.SUBJECT DETAILING

2.1 BRAIN MACHINE INTERFACE

A brain-machine interface (BMI) is an attempt to mesh our minds with machines. It is a communication channel from a human's brain to a computer, which does not resort to the usual human output pathways as muscles. It is about giving machine-like capabilities to intelligence, asking the brain to accommodate synthetic devices, and learning how to control those devices much the way we control our arms and legs today. These experiments lend hope that people with spinal injuries will be able to someday use their brain to control a prosthetic limb, or even their own arm. A BMI could, e.g., allow a paralyzed patient to convey her/his intentions to a computer program. But also applications in which healthy users can benefit from the direct brain computer communication are conceivable, e.g., to speed up reaction times. Initially theses interactions are with peripheral devices, but ultimately it may be interaction with another brain. The first peripheral devices were robotic arms. Our approach bases on an artificial neural network that recognizes and classifies different brain activation patterns associated with carefully selected mental tasks. Using BMI artificial electrical signal can stimulate the brain tissue in order to transmit some particular sensory information.

Figure.1 The Organization Of BMI

2.2 THE HUMAN BRAIN

All of it happens in the brain. The brain is undoubtly the most complex organ found among the carbon-based life forms. So complex it is that we have only vague information about how it works. The average human brain weights around 1400 grams. The most relevant part of brain concerning BMI’s is the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex can be divided into two hemispheres. The hemispheres are connected with each other via corpus callosum. Each hemisphere can be divided into four lobes. They are called frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes. Cerebral cortex is responsible for many higher order functions like problem solving, language comprehension and processing of complex visual information. The cerebral cortex can be divided into several areas, which are responsible of different functions. This kind of knowledge has been used when with BCI’s based on the pattern recognition approach. The mental tasks are chosen in such a way that they activate different parts of the cerebral cortex.

Cortical Area	Function
Auditory Association Area	Processing of auditory information
Auditory Cortex	Detection of sound quality (loudness, tone)
Speech Center (Broca’s area)	Speech production and articulation
Prefrontal Cortex	Problem solving,emotion,complex thought
Motor Association Cortex	Coordination of complex movement
Primary Motor Cortex	Initiation of voluntary movement
Primary Somatosensory Cortex	Receives tactile information from the body
Sensory Association Area	Processing of multisensory information
Visual Association Area	Complex processing of visual information
Wernicke’s Area	Language comprehension

Table.1 Cortical areas of the brain and their function

2.3 MAIN PRINCIPLE

Main principle behind this interface is the bioelectrical activity of nerves and muscles. It is now well established that the human body, which is composed of living tissues, can be considered as a power station generating multiple electrical signals with two internal sources, namely muscles and nerves.

We know that brain is the most important part of human body. It controls all the emotions and functions of the human body. The brain is composed of millions of neurons. These neurons work together in complex logic and produce thought and signals that control our bodies. When the neuron fires, or activates, there is a voltage change across the cell, (~100mv) which can be read through a variety of devices. When we want to make a voluntary action, the command generates from the frontal lobe. Signals are generated on the surface of the brain. These electric signals are different in magnitude and frequency.

By monitoring and analyzing these signals we can understand the working of brain. When we imagine ourselves doing something, small signals generate from different areas of the brain. These signals are not large enough to travel down the spine and cause actual movement. These small signals are, however, measurable. A neuron depolarizes to generate an impulse; this action causes small changes in the electric field around the neuron. These changes are measured as 0 (no impulse) or 1 (impulse generated) by the electrodes. We can control the brain functions by artificially producing these signals and sending them to respective parts. This is through stimulation of that part of the brain, which is responsible for a particular function using implanted electrodes.

2.4 ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a method used in measuring the electrical activity of the brain. The brain generates rhythmical potentials which originate in the individual neurons of the brain. These potentials get summated as millions of cell discharge synchronously and appear as a surface waveform, the recording of which is known as the electroencephalogram.

The neurons, like other cells of the body, are electrically polarized at rest. The interior of the neuron is at a potential of about –70mV relative to the exterior. When a neuron is exposed to a stimulus above a certain threshold, a nerve impulse, seen as a change in membrane potential, is generated which spreads in the cell resulting in the depolarization of the cell. Shortly afterwards, repolarization occurs.

The EEG signal can be picked up with electrodes either from scalp or directly from the cerebral cortex. As the neurons in our brain communicate with each other by firing electrical impulses, this creates an electric field which travel though the cortex, the dura, the skull and the scalp. The EEG is measured from the surface of the scalp by measuring potential difference between the actual measuring electrode and a reference electrode.

The peak-to-peak amplitude of the waves that can be picked up from the scalp is normally 100 microV or less while that on the exposed brain, is about 1mV. The frequency varies greatly with different behavioural states. The normal EEG frequency content ranges from 0.5 to 50 Hz.

Frequency information is particularly significant since the basic frequency of the EEG range is classified into five bands for purposes of EEG analysis. These bands are called brain rhythms and are named after Greek letters.

Five brain rhythms are displayed in Table.2. Most of the brain research is concentrated in these channels and especially alpha and beta bands are important for BCI research. The reason why the bands do not follow the greek letter magnitudely (alpha is not the lowest band) is that this is the order in which they were discovered.

Band	Frequency [Hz]
Delta	0.5- 4
Theta	4- 8
Alpha	8- 13
Beta	13- 22
Gamma	22-30

Table.2.Common EEG frequency ranges

The alpha rhythm is one of the principal components of the EEG and is an indicator of the state of alertness of the brain.

Figure 2. Examples of alpha, beta, theta and delta rhythms.

2.5 BMI APPROACHES

What are the thoughts the user thinks in order to control a BMI? An ideal BMI could detect the user’s wishes and commands directly. However, this is not possible with today’s technology. Therefore, BMI researches have used the knowledge they have had of the human brain and the EEG in order to design a BMI. There are basically two different approaches that have been used. The first one called a pattern recognition approach is based on cognitive mental tasks. The second one called an operant conditioning approach is based on the self-regulation of the EEG response.

In the first approach the subject concentrates on a few mental tasks. Concentration on these mental tasks produces different EEG patterns. The BCI (or the classifier in particular) can then be trained to classify these patterns.

In the second approach the user has to learn to self-regulate his or her EEG response, for example change the beta rhythm amplitude. Unlike in the pattern recognition approach, the BMI itself is not trained but it looks for particular changes (for example higher amplitude of a certain frequency) in the EEG signal. This requires usually a long training period, because the entire training load is on the user.

2.6 BLOCK DIAGRAM

2.7 BLOCK DESCRIPTION

The BMI consists of several components: 1.the implant device, or chronic multi-electrode array, 2.the signal recording and processing section, 3.an external device the subject uses to produce and control motion and 4.a feedback section to the subject. The first component is an implanted array of microelectrodes into the frontal and parietal lobes—areas of the brain involved in producing multiple output commands to control complex muscle movements. This device record action potentials of individual neurons and then represent the neural signal using a rate code .The second component consists of spike detection algorithms, neural encoding and decoding systems, data acquisition and real time processing systems etc .A high performance dsp architecture is used for this purpose. The external device that the subject uses may be a robotic arm, a wheel chair etc. depending upon the application. Feedback is an important factor in BCI’s. In the BCI’s based on the operant conditioning approach, feedback training is essential for the user to acquire the control of his or her EEG response. However, feedback can speed up the learning process and improve performance.

2.8 BMI COMPONENTS

A brain-machine interface (BMI) in its scientific interpretation is a combination of several hardware and software components trying to enable its user to communicate with a computer by intentionally altering his or her brain waves. The task of the hardware part is to record the brainwaves– in the form of the EEG signal – of a human subject, and the software has to analyze that data. In other words, the hardware consists of an EEG machine and a number of electrodes scattered over the subject’s skull. The EEG machine, which is connected to the electrodes via thin wires, records the brain-electrical activity of the subject, yielding a multi-dimensional (analog or digital) output. The values in each dimension (also called channel) represent the relative differences in the voltage potential measured at two electrode sites.

The software system has to read, digitize (in the case of an analog EEG machine), and preprocess the EEG data (separately for each channel), “understand” the subject’s intentions, and generate appropriate output. To interpret the data, the stream of EEG values is cut into successive segments, transformed into a standardized representation, and processed with the help of a classifier. There are several different possibilities for the realization of a classifier; one approach – involving the use of an artificial neural network (ANN)– has become the method of choice in recent years.

Figure 3. A BMI based on the classification of two mental tasks. The user is thinking task number 2 and the BCI classifies it correctly and provides feedback in the form of cursor movement.

Now the BMI components are described as follows:

2.8.1 IMPLANT DEVICE

The EEG is recorded with electrodes, which are placed on the scalp. Electrodes are small plates, which conduct electricity. They provide the electrical contact between the skin and the EEG recording apparatus by transforming the ionic current on the skin to the electrical current in the wires. To improve the stability of the signal, the outer layer of the skin called stratum corneum should be at least partly removed under the electrode. Electrolyte gel is applied between the electrode and the skin in order to provide good electrical contact.

Figure 4.An array of microelectrodes

Usually small metal-plate electrodes are used in the EEG recording. Neural implants can be used to regulate electric signals in the brain and restore it to equilibrium. The implants must be monitored closely because there is a potential for almost anything when introducing foreign signals into the brain.

There are a few major problems that must be addressed when developing neural implants. These must be made out of biocompatible material or insulated with biocompatible material that the body won’t reject and isolate. They must be able to move inside the skull with the brain without causing any damage to the brain. The implant must be chemically inert so that it doesn’t interact with the hostile environment inside the human body. All these factors must be addressed in the case of neural implants; otherwise it will stop sending useful information after a short period of time.

There are simple single wire electrodes with a number of different coatings to complex three-dimensional arrays of electrodes, which are encased in insulating biomaterials. Implant rejection and isolation is a problem that is being addressed by developing biocompatible materials to coat or incase the implant.

One option among the biocompatible materials is Teflon coating that protects the implant from the body. Another option is a cell resistant synthetic polymer like polyvinyl alcohol. To keep the implant from moving in the brain it is necessary to have a flexible electrode that will move with the brain inside the skull. This can make it difficult to implant the electrode. Dipping the micro device in polyethylene glycol, which causes the device to become less flexible, can solve this problem. Once in contact with the tissue this coating quickly dissolves. This allows easy implantation of a very flexible implant.

Three-dimensional arrays of electrodes are also under development. These devices are constructed as two-dimensional sheet and then bent to form 3D array. These can be constructed using a polymer substrate that is then fitted with metal leads. They are difficult to implement, but give a much great range of stimulation or sensing than simple ones.

Figure 5. Block diagram of the neurotrophic electrodes for implantation in human patients

.

A microscopic glass cone contains a neurotrophic factor that induces neurites to grow into the cone, where they contact one of several gold recording wires. Neurites that are induced to grow into the glass cone make highly stable contacts with recording wires. Signal conditioning and telemetric electronics are fully implanted under the skin of the scalp. An implanted transmitter (TX) sends signals to an external receiver (RX), which is connected to a computer.

2.8.2 SIGNAL PROCESSING SECTION

2.8.2.1 Multichannel Acquisition Systems

Electrodes interface directly to the non-inverting opamp inputs on each channel. At this section amplification, initial filtering of EEG signal and possible artifact removal takes place. Also A/D conversion is made, i.e. the analog EEG signal is digitized. The voltage gain improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by reducing the relevance of electrical noise incurred in later stages. Processed signals are time-division multiplexed and sampled.

Figure 6: A BMI under design.

2.8.2.2 Spike Detection

Real time spike detection is an important requirement for developing brain machine interfaces. Incorporating spike detection will allow the BMI to transmit only the action potential waveforms and their respective arrival times instead of the sparse, raw signal in its entirety. This compression

reduces the transmitted data rate per channel, thus increasing the number of channels that may be monitored simultaneously. Spike detection can further

reduce the data rate if spike counts are transmitted instead of spike waveforms. Spike detection will also be a necessary first step for any future hardware implementation of an autonomous spike sorter. Figure 6 shows its implementation using an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) with limited computational resources. A low power implantable ASIC for detecting and transmitting neural spikes will be an important building block for BMIs. A hardware realization of a spike detector in a wireless BMI must operate in real-time, be fully autonomous, and function at realistic signal-to- noise ratios (SNRs).

An implanted ASIC conditions signal from extra cellular neural electrodes, digitizes them, and then detects AP spikes. The spike waveforms are transmitted across the skin to a BMI processor, which sorts the spikes and then generates the command signals for the prosthesis.

2.8.2.3 Signal Analysis

Feature extraction and classification of EEG are dealt in this section. In this stage, certain features are extracted from the preprocessed and digitized EEG signal. In the simplest form a certain frequency range is selected and the amplitude relative to some reference level measured . Typically the features are frequency content of the EEG signal) can be calculated using, for example, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT function). No matter what features are used, the goal is to form distinct set of features for each mental task. If the feature sets representing mental tasks overlap each other too much, it is very difficult to classify mental tasks, no matter how good a classifier is used. On the other hand, if the feature sets are distinct enough, any classifier can classify them. The features extracted in the previous stage are the input for the classifier.

The classifier can be anything from a simple linear model to a complex nonlinear neural network that can be trained to recognize different mental tasks. Nowadays real time processing is used widely. Realtime applications provide an action or an answer to an external event in a timely and predictable manner. So by using this type of system we can get output nearly at the same time it receives input. Telemetry is handled by a wearable computer. The host station accepts the data via either a wireless access point or its own dedicated radio card.

2.8.3 EXTERNAL DEVICE

The classifier’s output is the input for the device control. The device control simply transforms the classification to a particular action. The action can be, e.g., an up or down movement of a cursor on the feedback screen or a selection of a letter in a writing application. However, if the classification was “nothing” or “reject”, no action is performed, although the user may be informed about the rejection. It is the device that subject produce and control motion. Examples are robotic arm, thought controlled wheel chair etc

2.8.4.FEEDBACK

Real-time feedback can dramatically improve the performance of a brain–machine interface. Feedback is needed for learning and for control. Real-time feedback can dramatically improve the performance of a brain–machine interface. In the brain, feedback normally allows for two corrective mechanisms. One is the ‘online’ control and correction of errors during the execution of a movement. The other is learning: the gradual adaptation of motor commands, which takes place after the execution of one or more movements.

In the BMIs based on the operant conditioning approach, feedback training is essential for the user to acquire the control of his or her EEG response. The BMIs based on the pattern recognition approach and using mental tasks do not definitely require feedback training. However, feedback can speed up the learning process and improve performance. Cursor control has been the most popular type of feedback in BMIs. Feedback can have many different effects, some of them beneficial and some harmful. Feedback used in BMIs has similarities with biofeedback, especially EEG biofeedback.

3. ADVANTAGES

Depending on how the technology is used, there are good and bad effects

1.In this era where drastic diseases are getting common it is a boon if we can develop it to its full potential.

2.Also it provides better living, more features, more advancement in technologies etc.

3. Linking people via chip implants to super intelligent machines seems to a natural progression –creating in effect, super humans.

4. Linking up in this way would allow for computer intelligence to be hooked more directly into the brain, allowing immediate access to the internet, enabling phenomenal math capabilities and computer memory.

5.By this humans get gradual co-evolution with computers.

3.1 CHALLENGES

1.Connecting to the nervous system could lead to permanent brain damage, resulting in the loss of feelings or movement, or continual pain.

2.In the networked brain condition –what will mean to be human?

3.Virus attacks may occur to brain causing ill effects.

4. APPLICATIONS

The BMI technologies of today can be broken into three major areas:

1. Auditory and visual prosthesis

- Cochlear implants

- Brainstem implants

- Synthetic vision

- Artificial silicon retina

2. Functional-neuromuscular stimulation (FNS)

- FNS systems are in experimental use in cases where spinal cord damage or a stroke has severed the link between brain and the peripheral nervous system. They can use brain to control their own limbs by this system

3. Prosthetic limb control

- Thought controlled motorized wheel chair.

- Thought controlled prosthetic arm for amputee.

- Various neuroprosthetic devices

Other various applications are Mental Mouse Applications in technology products, e.g., a mobile phone attachment that allows a physically challenged user to dial a phone number without touching it or speaking into it. System lets you speak without saying a word In effective construction of unmanned systems, in space missions, defense areas etc. NASA and DARPA has used this technology effectively. Communication over internet can be modified.

4.1 FUTURE EXPANSION

A new thought-communication device might soon help severely disabled people get their independence by allowing them to steer a wheelchair with their mind. Mind-machine interfaces will be available in the near future, and several methods hold promise for implanting information. . Linking people via chip implants to super intelligent machines seems to a natural progression –creating in effect, super humans. These cyborgs will be one step ahead of humans. And just as humans have always valued themselves above other forms of life, it is likely that cyborgs look down on humans who have yet to ‘evolve’.

Will people want to have their heads opened and wired? Technology moves in light speed now. In that accelerated future, today’s hot neural interface could become tomorrow’s neuro trash. Will you need to learn any math if you can call up a computer merely by your thoughts? Thought communication will place telephones firmly in the history books.

5.CONCLUSION

Cultures may have diverse ethics, but regardless, individual liberties and human life are always valued over and above machines. What happens when humans merge with machines? The question is not what will the computer be like in the future, but instead, what will we be like? What kind of people are we becoming?

BMI’s will have the ability to give people back their vision and hearing. They will also change the way a person looks at the world. Someday these devices might be more common than keyboards. Is someone with a synthetic eye, less a person than someone without? Shall we process signals like ultraviolet, X-rays, or ultrasounds as robots do? These questions will not be answered in the near future, but at some time they will have to be answered. What an interesting day that will be.

6.REFERENCE

Websites:

www.betterhumans.com

www.popsci.com

www.ele.uri.edu

www.duke.edu

www.elecdesign.com

www.brainlab.org

www.howstuffworks.com

Books and magazine:

Handbook Of Biomedical Instrumentation By R.S.Khandpur

APPENDIX-I

The human brain

The average human brain weights around 1400 grams. The brain can be divided into four structures: cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brain stem, hypothalamus and thalamus. The most relevant of them concerning BCIs is the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex can be divided into two hemispheres. The hemispheres are connected with each other via corpus callosum. Each hemisphere can be divided into four lobes. They are called frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes. Cerebral cortex is responsible for many “higher order” functions like problem solving, language comprehension and processing of complex visual information. The cerebral cortex can be divided into several areas, which areresponsible of different functions. These areas can be seen in Figure. This kind of knowledge have been used when with BCIs based on the pattern recognition approach. The mental tasks are chosen in such a way that they activate different parts of the cerebral cortex.

Functional areas of the brain

Electrode placements

In order to make patient’s records comparable over time and to other patient’s records, a specific system of electrode placement called International 10-20 system is used. The system is for 21 electrodes. The distance between the specific anatomic landmarks (nasion and inion, see Figure 2.7) is measured after which the electrodes are placed on the scalp using 10 and 20 % interelectrode distances. Each electrode position has a letter (to identify the underlying brain lobe) and a number or another letter to identify the hemisphere location. Odd numbers are on the left side and even on the right side. Z (for zero) refers to electrode placements at midline. The system allows the use of additional electrodes. As can be seen in Figure 2.7 midline (or zero) electrodes are flanked up by electrodes numbered 3 on the left and 4 on the right.

The international 10-20 electrode system: side and top views

Frequency bands of the EEG

Alpha Rhythm

The official definition of the _ -rhythm is: Rhythm at 8-13 Hz occuring during wakefulness sover the posterior regions of the head, generally with higher voltage over occipital areas. Amplitude is variable but mostly below 50_V in adults. Best seen with (the patients) eyes closed and under physical relaxation and relative mental inactivity. Blocked or attenuated by attention, especially visual and mental effort. The mean _ -rhythm of adult male is 10.20.9 Hz and it decreased as person ages, most probably due to the degeneration of cerebral. _ -Rhythm is characterized by sinusoidal wave. Spatially the _ -rhythm is a manifestation the posterior half of the head and found over occipital, parietal and posterior lobes._ -Rhythm is temporarily blocked by an eye opening (influx of light) and mental activities, which are usually less effective than eye opening. It has been proposed that _ -rhythm is a kind of a standing by -state of the brain, ready for switching to other activity bands according to activity (sloop, drowsiness, cognitive tasks).

MU-Rhythm

The mu -Rhythm, sometimes called Rolandic _ -rhythm, is in frequency and amplitude related to posterior _ -rhythm, but its topography and physiological meaning is quite different. The ’_’ stands for motor and it is strongly related to movement functions of the motor cortex. This rhythm is very asymmetric, the negative side being very shrap and spiky and the positive being rounded. Most commonly detected at frequencies between 9-11 Hz and values of 8 Hz or below may indicate brain abnormality. This rhythm is detected over the precentral and postcentral region, using electrodes of C3 and C4 of the standard 10-20 system._ -Rhythm is blocked by movement, which may be active, passive or reflexive. The blocking effect is bilateral but more stronger in contralateral side i.e. if left hand is moved, the blocking is stronger in the right side. This blocking appears before actual movement of the muscles, therefore it seems to related to conceptual planning of the movement. The -rhythm is also blocked by light tactile i.e. touching the skin lightly, so some researchers consider the _ -rhythm to be the ’idling’ state of the sensory cortex and its vincinity.

Beta Rhythm

_ -rhythm band consists of basicly all frequencies above 13 Hz but practically it is limited to 50 Hz by the measurement limits and to 30 Hz by functional findings. Spatially _ -rhythm can be found frontal and central regions. The central _ -rhythm is related to Rolandic _ -rhythm (see (1.2.2)) and can be blocked by motor activity and tactile simulation (planning to move)._ -rhythm rarely exceed amplitudes of 30 _V and as a rule of the thumb when frequency increases the amplitude decreases and vice versa. _ -rhythm is usually associated with increaced arousal and activity.

Theta Rhythm

A band originally a part of the delta band is of frequencies from 4 to 7 Hz. _ -rhythm has gotten its name from the presumed origin, the thalamus. EEG of a normal adult consists little _ -frequencies and no organized _ -rhythm. However, the _- frequencies and _ - rhythm play important part during the childhood and in states of drowsiness and sleep. _ -rhythm is associated with marking the maturity of the mechanism linking the cortex, the thalamus and the hypothalmus. Also it is linked with feelings of disappointment and frustration. For some people the _ -rhythm is present when performing mental tasks e.g. problem solving or visualization.

Delta Rhythm

This rhythm is detected when the subject is in deep sleep at later sleep periods. _ -rhythm has a relatively high amplitude and low frequency, 3 Hz or less. _ -rhythm decreases with age and can be a sign of brain abnormality if detected in the awake state.

Biofeedback in general

Biofeedback can be defined as follows: “Biofeedback is the process in which a subject receives information about his biological state. Usually a subject is not aware of his physiological functions, especially those controlled by the autonomic nervous system, such as heart rate and peripheral vasoconstriction. Biofeedback creates an external loop by which a subject can monitor one or more of his physiological states.”The most popular types of biofeedback machines or techniques include: Electroencephalography(EEG), electromyography (EMG), skin temperature and galvanic skin response(GSR). Different feedback methods have been used in different clinical purposes, for example, treatment of anxiety and muscle tension .

While linking the brain directly with machines was once considered science fiction, advances over the past few years have made it increasingly viable. It is an area of intense research with almost limitless possibilities. The human brain is the most complex physical system we know of, and we would have to understand its operation in great detail to build such a device. An immediate goal of brain-machine interface study is to provide a way for people with damaged sensory/motor functions to use their brain to control artificial devices and restore lost capabilities. By combining the latest developments in computer technology and hi-tech engineering, paralyzed persons will be able to control a motorized wheel chair, computer painter, or robotic arm by thought alone. In this era where drastic diseases are getting common it is a boon if we can develop it to its full potential. Recent technical and theoretical advances, have demonstrated the ultimate feasibility of this concept for a wide range of space-based applications. Besides the clinical purposes such an interface would find immediate applications in various technology products also.