The Influence of Motor Imagery Modality and Ability on Brain Computer Interface Performance

Brain computer interface using mu-rhythm modulations are a tool usually use these days in the research field and in the clinical field. Mu-rhythm based brain computer interface are controlled by the modulation of the mu-rhythm of the participants. Usually the participants are controlling their mu-rhythm by using motor imagery. Nevertheless some participants need more practice than others and some cannot achieve a good control even after training. This thesis investigated how the modality of motor imagery used (i.e. visual motor imagery or kinaesthetic motor imagery) can influence the performance in a brain computer interface task. Indeed a certain kind of motor imagery modality used in the training of participants and during a brain computer interface control task could produce better performance than another kind of motor imagery. Knowing which motor imagery modality is the best to train participants could optimise the performance of participants. Optimising the performance of participant is important in the clinical application of brain computer interface. A disabled person could learn faster how to control a wheel chair or a computer just by using his brain. In the research field it could allow the researcher to earn time in the training to the use to brain computer interface of the participants. The second purpose of this study is to know if the results to a test assessing motor imagery, in this case the MIQ-RS, could predict the performance of participants. Indeed, who would take a longer time to learn how to control brain computer interface is interesting and could allow the researcher to adapt the training to the participant. In order to investigate these questions, we have designed an experiment using a mu-rhythm based BCI. In our experiment, the participants had to control a mu rhythm based brain computer interface using either visual motor imagery or kinaesthetic motor imagery. We had also assessed the imagery ability of the participants before the experiment using the MIQ-RS and test if the performance of the participants could be predict using the score from the MIQ-RS.