Clinical trial NCT05576649: Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment in a P300 Speller Task for Attention Training
Official title: Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment in a P300 Speller Task for Attention Training
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Attention
Keywords: Neurofeedback
Cognitive Training
Lead sponsor: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Dublin City University
name: Irish Research Council
First posted: 2022-10-12
Enrollment: 51
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: This study compares different adaptation approaches in a P300-based BCI neurofeedback training to improve short-term attention. Participants will spell several words on a computer by focusing on a letter on the screen while their brain activity is recorded (P300 speller). The difficulty of this task will be adapted to train their attention. Their cognitive abilities will be evaluated using a random dot kinematogram, where they are asked to indicate the direction a fraction of moving dots on the computer screen is going in, before and after the training to analyse any improvements. Questionnaires will be used to compare the perceived task load of the different adaptation approaches.

Detailed description: Healthy participants will complete several runs in a P300-speller task, where the number of flashes per row and column is progressively adapted to their performance (in control group 1 and experimental group) or chosen randomly (in control group 2). Decreasing the number of flashes per row and column makes it harder for the computer to identify the letter the participant is focusing on, which encourages them to improve their focus to maintain their performance. The number of flashes can therefore be interpreted as the task difficulty of the P300 speller task.

The participants will complete a continuous version of the random dot kinematogram, where a fraction of incoherently moving dots will start moving coherently. The participants are asked to indicate which direction these dots are moving in. This task is completed before and after the P300 speller training, so that response times in the task can be compared.

To evaluate the perceived task load of the different adaptation approaches, the participants will complete a questionnaire about fatigue and boredom before and after the training session, as well as the NASA Task Load Index at the end of the experiment.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years and older
* able to consent
* normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of neurological or cognitive illnesses
* negative reaction to electroconductive gel used in the study (an allergy patch test will be carried out before the experiment starts)
* illiteracy

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in response times in the random dot motion task
timeFrame: Measured immediately before and after the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Change in accuracy in the random dot motion task
timeFrame: Measured immediately before and after the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Change in total power of EEG signals
timeFrame: Measured over the course of the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Change in alpha power of EEG signals
timeFrame: Measured over the course of the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Length of training
timeFrame: Measured over the course of the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in spelling accuracy in P300 speller task
timeFrame: Measured immediately before and after the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Change in responses to questionnaire
timeFrame: Measured immediately before and after the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
measure: Response to NASA Task Load Index questionnaire
timeFrame: Measured immediately after the training block in the experimental session (~1 hour and 30 minutes total)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Maynooth
country: Ireland
facility: Maynooth University
state: Co. Kildare
Study officials:
References:
citation: Arvaneh M, Robertson IH, Ward TE. A P300-Based Brain-Computer Interface for Improving Attention. Front Hum Neurosci. 2019 Jan 4;12:524. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00524. eCollection 2018.