Gerwin Schalk, Ph.D.

"Brain-Computer Interfacing Using Electrocorticography (ECoG)"

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) convert brain signals into outputs that communicate a user's intent. BCIs can be used by people to communicate and interact with their environment. However, practical applications of BCI technology are currently impeded by the limitations of the prevailing non-invasive and invasive recording methods. Electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings from the cortical surface could be a powerful and practical alternative to these methods. ECoG has much higher fidelity than EEG and is likely to have greater long-term stability than intracortical recordings.

In this talk, I will give an overview of the current state in BCI research. I will then demonstrate that ECoG can give detailed information about motor and language function that is in important ways comparable to that provided by intracortical recordings, and that it supports rapid acquisition of real-time BCI control in humans. Finally, I will show results from a comprehensive multi-center study that used ECoG and advanced signal processing methods to realize a novel functional mapping technology for invasive brain surgery.