Motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCI) have been proposed as a means for stroke rehabilitation, which combined with virtual reality allows for introducing game-based interactions into rehabilitation. However, the control of the MI-BCI may be difficult to obtain and users may face poor performance which frustrates them and potentially affects their motivation to use the technology. Decreases in motivation could be reduced by increasing the users' sense of agency over the system. The aim of this study was to understand whether embodiment (ownership) of a hand depicted in virtual reality can enhance the sense of agency to reduce frustration in an MI-BCI task. Twenty-two healthy participants participated in a within-subject study where their sense of agency was compared in two different embodiment experiences: 1) avatar hand (with body), or 2) abstract blocks. Both representations closed with a similar motion for spatial congruency and popped a balloon as a result. The hand/blocks were controlled through an online MI-BCI. Each condition consisted of 30 trials of MI-activation of the avatar hand/blocks. After each condition a questionnaire probed the participants' sense of agency, ownership, and frustration. Afterwards, a semi-structured interview was performed where the participants elaborated on their ratings. Both conditions supported similar levels of MI-BCI performance. A significant correlation between ownership and agency was observed ( r = 0.47, p = 0.001). As intended, the avatar hand yielded much higher ownership than the blocks. When controlling for performance, ownership increased sense of agency. In conclusion, designers of BCI-based rehabilitation applications can draw on anthropomorphic avatars for the visual mapping of the trained limb to improve ownership. While not While not reducing frustration ownership can improve perceived agency given sufficient BCI performance. In future studies the findings should be validated in stroke patients since they may perceive agency and ownership ...


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    ”Mine works better” - Examining the influence of embodiment in virtual reality on the sense of agency during a binary motor imagery task with a brain-computer interface



    Publication date :

    2021-01-01


    Remarks:

    Ziadeh , H , Gulyás , D , Nielsen , L D , Lehmann , S , Nielsen , T B , Kjeldsen , T K K , Hougaard , B I , Jochumsen , M R & Knoche , H 2021 , ' ”Mine works better” - Examining the influence of embodiment in virtual reality on the sense of agency during a binary motor imagery task with a brain-computer interface ' , Frontiers in Psychology , vol. 12 , 806424 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.806424



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    DDC:    629



    The Sense of embodiment in virtual reality

    Kilteni, Konstantina / Groten, Raphaela / Slater, Mel | BASE | 2012

    Free access

    Improving Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Performance Through Data Screening

    Zheng, Shiwei / Jiang, Lizi / Mai, Xun et al. | TIBKAT | 2023


    Improving Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface Performance Through Data Screening

    Zheng, Shiwei / Jiang, Lizi / Mai, Xun et al. | Springer Verlag | 2023


    Embodiment in Virtual Reality Intensifies Emotional Responses to Virtual Stimuli

    Gall, Dominik / Roth, Daniel / Stauffert, Jan-Philipp et al. | BASE | 2021

    Free access

    Kinesthetic Motor Imagery Based Brain-Computer Interface for Power Wheelchair Manoeuvring

    T., Jackie / M.P., Paulraj / Adom, A.H. et al. | BASE | 2018

    Free access