A screening protocol incorporating brain-computer interface feature matching considerations for augmentative and alternative communication

<i>Purpose</i>: The use of standardized screening protocols may inform brain-computer interface (BCI) research procedures to help maximize BCI performance outcomes and provide foundational information for clinical translation. Therefore, in this study we developed and evaluated a new BCI screening protocol incorporating cognitive, sensory, motor and motor imagery tasks. <i>Methods</i>: Following development, BCI screener outcomes were compared to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cognitive Behavioral Screen (ALS-CBS), and ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALS-FRS) for twelve individuals with a neuromotor disorder. <i>Results</i>: Scores on the cognitive portion of the BCI screener demonstrated limited variability, indicating all participants possessed core BCI-related skills. When compared to the ALS-CBS, the BCI screener was able to modestly discriminate possible cognitive difficulties that are likely to influence BCI performance. In addition, correlations between the motor imagery section of the screener and ALS-CBS and ALS-FRS were non-significant, suggesting the BCI screener may provide information not captured on other assessment tools. Additional differences were found between motor imagery tasks, with greater self-ratings on first-person explicit imagery of familiar tasks compared to unfamiliar/generic BCI tasks. <i>Conclusion</i>: The BCI screener captures factors likely relevant for BCI, which has value for guiding person-centered BCI assessment across different devices to help inform BCI trials.

## 研究目的
标准化筛查方案可为脑机接口（brain-computer interface, BCI）的研究流程提供参考，以最大化BCI的性能表现，并为其临床转化提供基础依据。为此，本研究开发并评估了一款整合认知、感知、运动及运动想象任务的新型BCI筛查方案。
## 研究方法
方案开发完成后，我们针对12名神经运动障碍患者，将BCI筛查结果与肌萎缩侧索硬化认知行为筛查量表（Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cognitive Behavioral Screen, ALS-CBS）、肌萎缩侧索硬化功能评定量表（ALS Functional Rating Scale, ALS-FRS）进行了对比分析。
## 研究结果
BCI筛查的认知维度得分变异性有限，表明所有受试者均具备BCI相关的核心技能。与ALS-CBS对比后发现，BCI筛查可适度区分可能影响BCI性能的认知障碍。此外，筛查的运动想象维度得分与ALS-CBS、ALS-FRS得分均无统计学意义，提示BCI筛查可提供其他评估工具未覆盖的独有信息。同时，不同运动想象任务间存在显著差异：受试者对熟悉任务的第一人称显性意象自我评分，显著高于陌生/通用BCI任务。
## 研究结论
本BCI筛查方案可覆盖与BCI应用密切相关的关键影响因素，有助于指导跨设备的以患者为中心的BCI评估，为BCI临床试验提供参考依据。