An Introduction to Brain-Computer Interfaces

The human brain is the most complex computer known to us. What if this biological computer could communicate with a digital one? The feasibility of this might sound like something taken from a SciFi movie, but it is already possible thanks to brain-computer interfaces (BCI). BCIs are devices or systems that respond to the neural processes in the brain. It is technology based on the acquisition of brain waves that are processed by a computer to execute commands. Its applications vary from robotic prosthetic limbs that can be controlled by the nervous system and electric wheelchairs that move with a single thought, to digital avatars controlled in an online world with the power of the mind. Imagine a time when those who are disabled regain mobility with the help of artificial limbs or when online gaming allows players to immerse themselves in a virtual world. This course is ideal if you are interested in robotics, computer science, neuroscience, or neurophysiology. If you are an EEG technician, you will also find learning about BCI very interesting.

You begin with an introduction to the field of brain-computer interfaces and learning about the innovations that are currently underway. To understand how brain-computer interfaces work, you need to study how brain waves are generated by event-related potentials or ERPs. Each ERP depends on where it originated from, whether they are visual, auditory, or somatosensory (a sensation such as pain or warmth) circuits in the brain. You will become familiar with the different types of ERPs and study how to elicit them through various stimuli and record them using an electroencephalogram or EEG. Learn about the equipment required to perform these experiments, how to set up all of your instruments, how to design a signal conditioning circuit for biopotential acquisition, where to place the EEG electrodes on the human scalp, how to filter unwanted artefacts from the recordings, and how to interpret the signal readings.

Each of these electrical signals or brain waves has a unique time-frequency relationship that can be digitised and read by a computer. You will study examples of different ERPs and visualise the brain wave on a graph. To help you understand how these waves behave, you will learn how to use a computer program known as EEGLAB as well as an extension known as ERPLAB. Explore their different functions as you learn how to plot and interpret event-related potentials, and see how to use it to perform a wavelet analysis of these biopotential signals to establish the time-frequency relationship of each signal. While having a background in neuroscience is not necessary, knowing how the human brain functions will make this exciting course easier to understand. If you are a programmer or are interested in computers and robotics, this course is definitely worth your while. So why wait! Take Introduction to Brain-Computer Interfaces and start learning today!