Unlock the Secrets of Ageing Brains Through P300 Brain-computer Interface Games

University of Sheffield

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Treatments: Device: P300-BCI task without feedback; Device: Random Dot Motion (RDM) task; Diagnostic Test: MoCA Test

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06628427

IRAS346367

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study will investigate the use of Electroencephalography (EEG) in understanding mild cognitive impairment (MCI). EEG is commonly used in everyday clinical practice for the assessment of a wide range of neurological disorders. It records the brains spontaneous electrical signals and offers a non-invasive means of visually evaluating brain signals. By analysing these signals, we aim to uncover invaluable insights into cognitive impairments and the ageing brains cognitive processes.

Full description

The Electroencephalogram (EEG) is widely used in clinical practice to assess various neurological disorders. It records the brains spontaneous electrical activity, providing a non-invasive way to visually examine brain signals. By analysing these signals, we aim to gain valuable insights into cognitive impairments and the cognitive processes of the ageing brain. The P300 is an event-related potential (ERP) that serves as a crucial EEG-based biomarker, whose amplitude and latency are key points of research in cognitive impairments. Typically elicited by a visual speller, the P300 could be used for the communication through brain-computer interface (BCI). A P300-based BCI enables communication by detecting the P300 response to specific target letters, allowing users to select letters they wish to spell through interactive interface. In this study, we will recruit 15 elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) symptoms and 15 controls without MCI. We will customise the P300-BCI by adjusting the inter-stimulus interval (ISI) and the matrix size which is the probability of the target presenting. This will help us investigate how these parameter settings influence the P300 components and the accuracy of the P300-BCI in both groups. Additionally, this study could help explore the potential of the P300-BCI to mitigate MCI symptoms and provide evidence for its further development.

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Diagnosed with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) or mild dementia
2. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
3. Can maintain sitting with or without support for around 60 minutes continuously
4. Cognitive and language abilities to understand and participate in the study protocol and able to give consent and understand instructions

Exclusion criteria

1. Severe cognitive impairment that would interfere with their ability to comply with the experimental protocol or provide informed consent
2. Pre-existing severe systemic disorders like active cancer, end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, psychiatric illness including severe alcohol or drug abuse
3. Past history of epilepsy- with seizures in last 12 months
4. History of photosensitive epilepsy.
5. Allergy to latex

Trial design

15 participants in 1 patient group

Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairments

Treatment:

Device: Random Dot Motion (RDM) task

Diagnostic Test: MoCA Test

Device: P300-BCI task without feedback