Aya Khalaf1, Jessica Kersey2, Safaa Eldeeb3, Gazihan Alankus4, Emily Grattan5, Laura Waterstram2, Elizabeth Skidmore2, Murat Akcakaya3. 1. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: afk17@pitt.edu. 2. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, 5012 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. 3. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. 4. Department of Computer Engineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cd. 156, 35330, Turkey. 5. Department of Health Sciences and Research, Medical University of South Carolina, 77 President Street, MSC 700, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spatial neglect (SN) is a neuropsychological syndrome that impairs automatic attention orienting to stimuli in the contralesional visual space of stroke patients. SN is commonly assessed using paper and pencil tests. Recently, computerized tests have been proposed to provide a dynamic assessment of SN. However, both paper- and computer-based methods have limitations. NEW METHOD: Electroencephalography (EEG) shows promise for overcoming the limitations of current assessment methods. The aim of this work is to introduce an objective passive BCI system that records EEG signals in response to visual stimuli appearing in random locations on a screen with a dynamically changing background. Our preliminary experimental studies focused on validating the system using healthy participants with intact brains rather than employing it initially in more complex environments with patients having cortical lesions. Therefore, we designed a version of the test in which we simulated SN by hiding target stimuli appearing on the left side of the screen so that the subject's attention is shifted to the right side. RESULTS: Results showed that there are statistically significant differences between EEG responses due to right and left side stimuli reflecting different processing and attention levels towards both sides of the screen. The system achieved average accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 74.24%, 75.17% and 71.36% respectively. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The proposed test can examine both presence and severity of SN, unlike traditional paper and pencil tests and computer-based methods. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed test is a promising objective SN evaluation method. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND: Spatial neglect (SN) is a neuropsychological syndrome that impairs automatic attention orienting to stimuli in the contralesional visual space of strokepatients. SN is commonly assessed using paper and pencil tests. Recently, computerized tests have been proposed to provide a dynamic assessment of SN. However, both paper- and computer-based methods have limitations. NEW METHOD: Electroencephalography (EEG) shows promise for overcoming the limitations of current assessment methods. The aim of this work is to introduce an objective passive BCI system that records EEG signals in response to visual stimuli appearing in random locations on a screen with a dynamically changing background. Our preliminary experimental studies focused on validating the system using healthy participants with intact brains rather than employing it initially in more complex environments with patients having cortical lesions. Therefore, we designed a version of the test in which we simulated SN by hiding target stimuli appearing on the left side of the screen so that the subject's attention is shifted to the right side. RESULTS: Results showed that there are statistically significant differences between EEG responses due to right and left side stimuli reflecting different processing and attention levels towards both sides of the screen. The system achieved average accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 74.24%, 75.17% and 71.36% respectively. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The proposed test can examine both presence and severity of SN, unlike traditional paper and pencil tests and computer-based methods. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed test is a promising objective SN evaluation method. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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