OBJECTIVE People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can benefit from brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). However, users with ALS may experience significant variations in BCI performance and event-related potential (ERP) characteristics. This study investigated latency jitter and its correlates in ALS. METHODS Electroencephalographic (EEG) responses were recorded from six people with ALS and nine neurotypical controls. ERP amplitudes and latencies were extracted. Classifier-based latency estimation was used to calculate latency jitter. ERP components and latency jitter were compared between groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Correlations between latency jitter and each of the clinical measures, ERP features, and performance measures were investigated using Spearman and repeated measures correlations. RESULTS Latency jitter was significantly increased in participants with ALS and significantly negatively correlated with BCI performance in both ALS and control participants. ERP amplitudes were significantly attenuated in ALS, and significant correlations between ERP features and latency jitter were observed. There was no significant correlation between latency jitter and clinical measures. CONCLUSIONS Latency jitter is increased in ALS and correlates with both BCI performance and ERP features. SIGNIFICANCE These results highlight the associations of latency jitter with BCI performance and ERP characteristics and could inform future BCI designs for people with ALS.

中文翻译：

---

肌萎缩侧索硬化患者的 P300 延迟抖动及其相关性

目的 肌萎缩侧索硬化 (ALS) 患者可以从脑机接口 (BCI) 中受益。但是，患有 ALS 的用户可能会遇到 BCI 性能和事件相关电位 (ERP) 特征的显着变化。本研究调查了 ALS 中的延迟抖动及其相关性。方法 记录了 6 名 ALS 患者和 9 名神经典型对照者的脑电图 (EEG) 反应。提取了 ERP 振幅和延迟。基于分类器的延迟估计用于计算延迟抖动。使用 Wilcoxon 秩和检验比较组间的 ERP 组件和延迟抖动。使用 Spearman 和重复测量相关性研究了延迟抖动与每个临床测量、ERP 特征和性能测量之间的相关性。结果 ALS 参与者的延迟抖动显着增加，并且与 ALS 和对照组参与者的 BCI 表现显着负相关。ERP 振幅在 ALS 中显着减弱，并且观察到 ERP 特征与延迟抖动之间的显着相关性。延迟抖动和临床测量之间没有显着相关性。结论 ALS 中延迟抖动增加，并且与 BCI 性能和 ERP 功能相关。意义这些结果突出了延迟抖动与 BCI 性能和 ERP 特征的关联，并可以为 ALS 患者的未来 BCI 设计提供信息。并观察到 ​​ERP 特征与延迟抖动之间的显着相关性。延迟抖动和临床测量之间没有显着相关性。结论 ALS 中延迟抖动增加，并且与 BCI 性能和 ERP 功能相关。意义这些结果突出了延迟抖动与 BCI 性能和 ERP 特征的关联，并可以为 ALS 患者的未来 BCI 设计提供信息。并观察到 ​​ERP 特征与延迟抖动之间的显着相关性。延迟抖动和临床测量之间没有显着相关性。结论 ALS 中延迟抖动增加，并且与 BCI 性能和 ERP 功能相关。意义这些结果突出了延迟抖动与 BCI 性能和 ERP 特征的关联，并可以为 ALS 患者的未来 BCI 设计提供信息。