Probabilistic simulation framework for EEG-based BCI design

A simulation framework could decrease the burden of attending long and tiring experimental sessions on the potential users of brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. Specifically during the initial design of a BCI, a simulation framework that could replicate the operational performance of the system would be a useful tool for designers to make design choices. In this manuscript, we develop a Monte Carlo-based probabilistic simulation framework for electroencephalography (EEG) based BCI design. We employ one event-related potential (ERP) based typing and one steady-state evoked potential (SSVEP) based control interface as testbeds. We compare the results of simulations with real-time experiments. Even though over-and underestimation of the performance is possible, the statistical results over the Monte Carlo simulations show that the developed framework generally provides a good approximation of the real-time system performance.