Information and Communications Technology and Policy

Information and Communications Technology and Policy

Information and Communications Technology and Policy ›› 2026, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (6): 2-8.doi: 10.12267/j.issn.2096-5931.2026.06.001

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Research on online template update algorithm for brain-computer interface based on rapid serial visual presentation paradigm

YU Zhaoliang, ZHANG Hongxin, YANG Chen   

  1. School of Electronic Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, China
  • Received:2026-04-27 Online:2026-06-25 Published:2026-07-06

Abstract:

To tackle the non-stationarity of Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals in Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), we propose an online template updating algorithm based on the Expectation-Maximization (EM) method. This algorithm formulates EEG signals as a combination of templates and trigger matrices, and updates the templates synchronously using maximum likelihood estimation. Experimental results show that the proposed Online-Updating Hierarchical Discriminant Component Analysis (OU-HDCA) algorithm, which combines the online updating scheme and Hierarchical Discriminant Component Analysis (HDCA), outperforms the traditional static HDCA algorithm remarkably in terms of classification accuracy and information transfer rate, with both indicators maintaining a continuous upward trend. The proposed algorithm adapts to the time-varying characteristics of EEG signals, improves the long-term reliability of BCI systems, and can serve as an effective solution for clinical assistive communication.

Key words: BCI, EEG, online update, signal estimation

CLC Number: