Effect of Short Term Meditation on Brain Computer Interface Performance
Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. BCI systems enable patients with severe neuromuscular disorders to use their brain signal to communicate with others. BCI users need to maintain stable mental states to achieve a higher accuracy rate, while distraction and frustration will degrade the performance. Research had found that long term mindfulness meditation practice can help increase regulate the mental state, and thus enhance the efficacy of BCI performance. A previous study showed that a 12 week mindfulness meditation practice programme improved BCI performance. However, long term meditation course require extensive time and financial commitment. Thus the current study examines whether a short term 4 week mindfulness meditation practice programme will promote a similar improvement in BCI performance. Undergraduate students were recruited for the study. BCI performance test been carry out before and after the intervention period to compare the changes. Preliminary results showed that all meditation subjects had improved their accuracy in BCI performance test after the 4 week meditation practice.