EEG-based BCI Systems in Neuropsychiatric Diseases

185

7.4.1

Control of Computer Systems and External Devices

With the integration of technology into every aspect of our lives, the diver-

sity of BCI applications has increased, covering various fields. One of the most

prominent applications of BCI systems is in the healthcare sector, particularly

in neurorehabilitation by allowing its users to control computer systems and

external devices (e.g., robotic arms, wheelchairs) directly with their thoughts

[58, 59]. The direct translation of neural signals into commands allows users to

navigate interfaces, type messages, and execute various tasks solely through

their cognitive intentions. The possibility of this significantly enhances ac-

cessibility, especially for individuals with motor disabilities, making everyday

tasks more manageable and providing greater independence and autonomy.

Various studies in the literature attempted to develop robust MI-BCI sys-

tems with the implementations of ML and DL models to enable the person

to communicate with their surroundings [42]. Besides neurorehabilitation sys-

tems, several detection systems have also emerged such as stress detection [60]

and disease detection [61] (see also the following section).

Over the past ten years, BCI has become a prominent focus in research

on human-computer interaction (HCI) for non-clinical applications. The BCI

recognition systems play a crucial role not only in healthcare but also for non-

clinical technology including neuro-marketing [62], security and authentication

[63], smart home appliances [64], communication [65], emotion recognition

[66], novel sound recognition [67], and natural language processing (NLP) [68]

to make our daily lives easier.

The gaming and entertainment industry has also embraced BCI systems,

introducing immersive experiences where users can control elements of the

virtual environment through neural commands [69]. This novel integration

enhances user engagement and sets the stage for a new era of interactive en-

tertainment. Moreover, BCI offers a novel avenue for art [70], enabling artists

to convey their inner thoughts, and emotions directly through their neural

patterns; for creativity [71] to explore how BCI can be utilized to understand

and augment creative ideation; for sports [72] to improve the performance of

athletics.

7.4.2

Decoding Mental States in Neuropsychiatric Diseases

Over the past decades, neuroimaging has gained prominence, with the ad-

vancements in computing technology and enhanced our understanding of the

brain mechanisms with various unimodal modalities such as EEG, fMRI,

magnetoencephalography (MEG), positron emission tomography (PET), and

near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), that provides functional insights (such as

neural activity and cognitive functions). Additionally, methods like computed

tomography (CT), structural MRI (sMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

offer structural and anatomical information (e.g., gray matter and white mat-

ter tracts). Besides unimodal modalities, the combination of two or more