Combining fNIRS and EEG to Improve Motor Cortex Activity Classification during an Imagined Movement-Based Task

This work serves as an initial investigation into improvements to classification accuracy of an imagined movement-based Brain Computer Interface (BCI) by combining the feature spaces of two unique measurement modalities: functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). Our dual-modality system recorded concurrent and co-locational hemodynamic and electrical responses in the motor cortex during an imagined movement task, participated in by two subjects. Offline analysis and classification of fNIRS and EEG data was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Classification of 2-dimensional fNIRS and EEG feature spaces was performed separately and then their feature spaces were combined for further classification. Results of our investigation indicate that by combining feature spaces, modest gains in classification accuracy of an imagined movement-based BCI can be achieved by employing a supplemental measurement modality. It is felt that this technique may be particularly useful in the design of BCI devices for the augmentation of rehabilitation therapy.