Highlights: Training in mindfulness meditation (MM) improves ability to control a BCI device.  Equivalent expectations for improvement are elicited by MM and music training.  BCI performance is better after MM rather than music training.  Expectations cannot explain the effect of MM on BCI performance.

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Ultra-slow cortical oscillatory activity of 1-100 mHz has been recorded in human by electroencephalography and in dissociated cultures of cortical rat neurons, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This study presents a computational model of ultra-slow oscillatory activity based on the interaction between neurons and astrocytes. We predict that the frequency of these oscillations closely depends on activation of astrocytes in the network, which is reflected by oscillations of their intracellular calcium concentrations with periods between tens of seconds and minutes. An increase of intracellular calcium in astrocytes triggers the release of adenosine triphosphate from these cells which may alter transmission at nearby synapses by increasing or decreasing neurotransmitter release. These results provide theoretical support for the emerging awareness of astrocytes as active players in the regulation of neural activity and identify neuron-astrocyte interactions as a potential primary mechanism for the emergence of ultra-slow cortical oscillations.

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Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. BCI systems enable patients with severe neuromuscular disorders to use their brain signal to communicate with others. BCI users need to maintain stable mental states to achieve a higher accuracy rate, while distraction and frustration will degrade the performance. Research had found that long-term mindfulness meditation practice can help increase regulate the mental state, and thus enhance the efficacy of BCI performance. A previous study showed that a 12-week mindfulness meditation practice programme improved BCI performance. However, long-term meditation course require extensive time and financial commitment. Thus the current study examines whether a short-term 4-week mindfulness meditation practice programme will promote a similar improvement in BCI performance. Undergraduate students were recruited for the study. BCI performance test been carry out before and after the intervention period to compare the changes. Preliminary results showed that all meditation subjects had improved their accuracy in BCI performance test after the 4-week meditation practice. 

Having the capability to control a wheelchair using brain signals would be a major benefit to patients suffering from motor disabling diseases. However, one major challenge such systems are facing is the amount of input needed over time by the patient for control. Such a navigation control system results in a significant mental burden for the patient. The objective of this study is to develop a BCI system that requires a low number of inputs from a subject to operate. We propose an autonomous wheelchair that uses steady-state visual evoked potential based brain computer interfaces to achieve the objective. A dual mode system was implemented in this study to allow the autonomous wheelchair to work in both unknown and known environments. Robot operating system is used as the middleware in this study for the development of the algorithm to operate the wheelchair. The mental task for the subject using this wheelchair is reduced by relegating the responsibility of navigation control from the subject to the navigation software.

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