• Thomas Costecalde, Tetiana Aksenova, Napoleon Torres-Martinez, Andriy Eliseyev, Corinne Mestais, Cecile Moro, and Alim Louis Benabid.
• University of Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, 38000, France.
• Neuromodulation. 2018 Feb 1; 21 (2): 149-159.

BackgroundBrain Computer Interface (BCI) studies are performed in an increasing number of applications. Questions are raised about electrodes, data processing and effectors. Experiments are needed to solve these issues.ObjectiveTo develop a simple BCI set-up to easier studies for improving the mathematical tools to process the ECoG to control an effector.MethodWe designed a simple BCI using transcranial electrodes (17 screws, three mechanically linked to create a common reference, 14 used as recording electrodes) to record Electro-Cortico-Graphic (ECoG) neuronal activities in rodents. The data processing is based on an online self-paced non-supervised (asynchronous) BCI paradigm. N-way partial least squares algorithm together with Continuous Wavelet Transformation of ECoG recordings detect signatures related to motor activities. Signature detection in freely moving rats may activate external effectors during a behavioral task, which involved pushing a lever to obtain a reward.ResultsAfter routine training, we showed that peak brain activity preceding a lever push (LP) to obtain food reward was located mostly in the cerebellar cortex with a higher correlation coefficient, suggesting a strong postural component and also in the occipital cerebral cortex. Analysis of brain activities provided a stable signature in the high gamma band (∼180Hz) occurring within 1500 msec before the lever push approximately around -400 msec to -500 msec. Detection of the signature from a single cerebellar cortical electrode triggers the effector with high efficiency (68% Offline and 30% Online) and rare false positives per minute in sessions about 30 minutes and up to one hour (∼2 online and offline).ConclusionsIn summary, our results are original as compared to the rest of the literature, which involves rarely rodents, a simple BCI set-up has been developed in rats, the data show for the first time long-term, up to one year, unsupervised online control of an effector.© 2017 International Neuromodulation Society.

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