Applying Functional Animation to Pictorial Symbols for Supporting P300–Brain–Computer Interface Access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices by Children

Motion techniques, such as highlighting communication items via flip and/or zoom motion, may support BCI-AAC success and comfort for those using P300 brain–computer interface techniques for augmentative and alternative communication device access (BCI-AAC). However, the utilization of motion in P300-BCI-AAC for children is largely unexplored. Therefore, the aims of this investigation are to provide initial insights into the impacts of functional pictorial symbol animation on (a) event-related potentials underlying P300-BCI-AAC performance and (b) children’s user experience. Participants completed two conditions: (1) a static item condition, and (2) a functional animation condition. Following completion, participants completed Likert scale ratings of factors like visual appeal. Animation significantly increased parieto-occipital P200/P300 amplitudes and delayed parieto-occipital N200, P200/P300, and N400 latencies. Further, animation raised ratings of visual appeal to a level approaching significance. Static highlighting significantly increased N400 amplitudes. Findings provide early insights into neural activity underlying P300-BCI-AAC highlighting of pictorial symbols via animation in children and justify further evaluation.

诸如通过翻转动画或缩放动画高亮沟通条目这类动效技术，或可提升使用P300脑机接口技术进行辅助与替代沟通设备操控（BCI-AAC，Brain-Computer Interface Augmentative and Alternative Communication）的使用者的沟通成功率与使用舒适度。然而，针对儿童群体的P300-BCI-AAC动效应用研究仍鲜有涉足。因此本研究旨在初步探索功能性图片符号动画对两方面的影响：(a) P300-BCI-AAC任务表现所依托的事件相关电位，以及(b) 儿童使用者的用户体验。受试者需完成两种实验条件：(1) 静态条目条件，以及(2) 功能性动画条件。实验结束后，受试者需填写李克特量表，对视觉吸引力等维度进行评分。动画显著提升了枕顶叶P200/P300的波幅，并延迟了枕顶叶N200、P200/P300及N400的潜伏期。此外，动画将视觉吸引力的评分提升至接近统计学显著性的水平；而静态高亮则显著提升了N400的波幅。本研究结果初步揭示了儿童群体中，通过动画实现P300-BCI-AAC图片符号高亮所依托的神经活动机制，并为后续相关研究提供了评估依据。