The effects of working memory on brain–computer interface performance

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between working memory and BCI performance. METHODS: Participants took part in two separate sessions. The first session consisted of three computerized tasks. The List Sorting Working Memory Task was used to measure working memory, the Picture Vocabulary Test was used to measure general intelligence, and the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test was used to measure executive function, specifically cognitive flexibility. The second session consisted of a P300-based BCI copy-spelling task. RESULTS: The results indicate that both working memory and general intelligence are significant predictors of BCI performance. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that working memory training could be used to improve performance on a BCI task. SIGNIFICANCE: Working memory training may help to reduce a portion of the individual differences that exist in BCI performance allowing for a wider range of users to successfully operate the BCI system as well as increase the BCI performance of current users.