Should the parameters of a BCI translation algorithm be continually adapted?

People with or without motor disabilities can learn to control sensorimotor rhythms (SMRs) recorded from the scalp to move a computer cursor in one or more dimensions or can use the P300 event-related potential as a control signal to make discrete selections. Data collected from individuals using an SMR-based or P300-based BCI were evaluated offline to estimate the impact on performance of continually adapting the parameters of the translation algorithm during BCI operation. The performance of the SMR-based BCI was enhanced by adaptive updating of the feature weights or adaptive normalization of the features. In contrast, P300 performance did not benefit from either of these procedures.

► Continual adaptation of parameters controlling SMR-based BCIs improves performance. ► Continual adaptation of parameters does not facilitate P300 performance. ► SMR and P300 BCIs have different dynamics.