International Journal of Human-Computer Studies ( IF 5.4 ) Pub Date : 2021-02-03 , DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2021.102603 Léa Pillette , Aline Roc , Bernard N’Kaoua , Fabien Lotte
Context: Motor Imagery based Brain-Computer Interfaces (MI-BCIs) enable their users to interact with digital technologies, e.g., neuroprosthesis, by performing motor imagery tasks only, e.g., imagining hand movements, while their brain activity is recorded. To control MI-BCIs, users must train to control their brain activity. During such training, experimenters have a fundamental role, e.g., they motivate participants. However, their influence had never been formally assessed for MI-BCI user training. In other fields, e.g., social psychology, experimenters gender was found to influence experimental outcomes, e.g., behavioural or neurophysiological measures. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate if the experimenters gender influenced MI-BCI user training outcomes, i.e., performances and user-experience. Methods: We performed an experiment involving 6 experimenters (3 women) each training 5 women and 5 men (60 participants) to perform right versus left hand MI-BCI tasks over one session. We then studied the training outcomes, i.e., MI-BCI performances and user-experience, according to the experimenters’ and subjects’ gender. Results: A significant interaction between experimenters and participants’ gender was found on the evolution of trial-wise performances. Another interaction was found between participants tension and experimenters gender on the average performances. Conclusion: Experimenters gender could influence MI-BCI performances depending on participants gender and tension. Significance: Experimenters influence on MI-BCI user training outcomes should be better controlled, assessed and reported to further benefit from it while preventing any bias.
中文翻译:
实验者对基于心理图像的脑机接口用户培训的影响
背景:基于运动图像的脑机接口(MI-BCI)通过仅执行运动图像任务(例如想象手的运动)来记录用户的大脑活动,从而使他们的用户能够与数字技术(例如神经假体)进行交互。为了控制MI-BCI,用户必须进行训练以控制其大脑活动。在这样的培训中,实验者起着根本性的作用,例如,他们激励参与者。但是,从未对MI-BCI用户培训进行正式评估。在其他领域,例如社会心理学,发现实验者的性别会影响实验结果,例如行为或神经生理学指标。目的:我们的目的是评估实验者的性别是否影响了MI-BCI用户培训的结果,即性能和用户体验。方法:我们进行了一项实验,其中包括6位实验者(3位女性),每位培训5位女性和5位男性(60位参与者),以在一个会话中执行左右手MI-BCI任务。然后,我们根据实验者和受试者的性别,研究了训练结果,即MI-BCI的表现和用户体验。结果:在试验表现的演变中发现了实验者和参与者性别之间的显着相互作用。在参与者的紧张程度和实验者性别之间的平均表现上还发现了另一种相互作用。结论:实验者的性别可能会影响MI-BCI的表现,具体取决于参与者的性别和紧张程度。启示:应更好地控制,评估和报告实验人员对MI-BCI用户培训结果的影响,以进一步从中受益,同时防止任何偏见。