Translational Algorithms: The Heart of a Brain Computer Interface

Brain computer Interface (BCI) development encapsulates three basic processes: data acquisition, data processing, and device control. Since the start of the millennium the BCI development cycle has undergone a metamorphosis. This is mainly due to the increased popularity of BCI applications in both commercial and research circles. One of the focuses of BCI research is to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial applications using this technology. A vast variety of new approaches are being employed for BCI development ranging from novel paradigms, such as simultaneous acquisitions, through to asynchronous BCI control. The strategic usage of computational techniques, comprising the heart of the BCI system, underwrites this vast range of approaches. This chapter discusses these computational strategies and translational techniques including dimensionality reduction, feature extraction, feature selection, and classification techniques.