Neural Human Machine Interface and Its Neural Human Machine Interface and Its Applications

Electroencephalogram is a powerful non-invasive tool widely used by for both medical diagnosis and neurobiological research because it provides high temporal resolution in milliseconds which directly reflects the dynamics of the generating cell assemblies, and it is the only brain imaging modality that does not require the head/body to be fixed. However, the lack of availability of EEG monitoring system capable of high-definition recording, online signal processing and artifact cancellation, without use of conductive gels applied to the scalp, has long thwarted the applications of EEG monitoring in the workplace. This dissertation describes a design, development and testing of a neural human machine interface that allows assessment of brain activities of participants actively performing ordinary tasks in natural body positions and situations within a real operational environment. More importantly, this dissertation also discuss the implications of this innovative mobile wireless brain imaging technology in neuroscience and neuro-technology, through three sample studies: (1) cognitive-state monitoring of participants performing realistic driving tasks in the virtual-reality-based dynamic driving simulator; (2) the efficacy and neural correlates of auditory feedback delivered to participants to maintain