α-modulation induced by covert attention shifts as a new input modality for EEG-based BCIs

Covert attention shifts to the visual periphery induce modulations of α-bandpower over occipital cortex. By demonstrating robust classification of covert attention shifts to four different target locations, a recent magnetoencephalography (MEG) study set the first step for its use as a new input modality to brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) [1]. Here, we set the next step by investigating its feasibility using electroencephalography (EEG). Eight healthy participants had to shift covert visual attention to one of six different target locations while strictly fixating the center of the screen. To enhance the spatial resolution, we used a current source density (CSD) estimate instead of raw voltage maps. Covert attention shifts to the different target locations yielded distinctive topographical distributions of posterior alpha activity.