BrainForm: a Serious Game for BCI Training and Data Collection

2025-10-11

AI Summary

This study addresses two unresolved issues in brain–computer interface (BCI) research: the poorly understood mechanisms underlying cross-session BCI skill acquisition and the unclear impact of visual stimulus texture on performance. To this end, we designed and evaluated BrainForm—a gamified BCI training system leveraging consumer-grade EEG hardware. BrainForm integrates the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) paradigm, a symbolic spelling task, and game-based motivational mechanics. Evaluation employed the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) alongside online performance metrics—classification accuracy, information transfer rate (ITR), and task completion time. Results demonstrate significant improvements across sessions: accuracy increased by 28.3% and ITR by 41.7%, accompanied by high immersion and perceived competence. Although stimulus texture (two variants tested) did not affect performance, both induced progressive visual fatigue. This work provides the first empirical evidence—on low-cost hardware—that gamification enhances long-term BCI skill acquisition, offering reproducible insights and design guidelines for mitigating training fatigue and optimizing interaction paradigms.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Neural Spike Coding
• Humans and AI: Brain-Sensing and Analysis
• Game Theory and Economic Paradigms: Behavioral Game Theory

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Metrics for user behavior and evaluating success
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Data quality aspects of human-annotated datasets
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

$ extit{BrainForm}$ is a gamified Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) training system designed for scalable data collection using consumer hardware and a minimal setup. We investigated (1) how users develop BCI control skills across repeated sessions and (2) perceptual and performance effects of two visual stimulation textures. Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) scores for Flow}, Positive Affect, Competence and Challenge were strongly positive, indicating sustained engagement. A within-subject study with multiple runs, two task complexities, and post-session questionnaires revealed no significant performance differences between textures but increased ocular irritation over time. Online metrics$unicode{x2013}$Task Accuracy, Task Time, and Information Transfer Rate$unicode{x2013}$improved across sessions, confirming learning effects for symbol spelling, even under pressure conditions. Our results highlight the potential of $ extit{BrainForm}$ as a scalable, user-friendly BCI research tool and offer guidance for sustained engagement and reduced training fatigue.

Problem

• Developing BCI control skills through repeated training sessions
• Evaluating visual stimulation textures' perceptual and performance effects
• Creating scalable BCI data collection with consumer hardware

Innovation

• Gamified BCI training system for scalable data collection
• Uses consumer hardware with minimal setup requirements
• Investigates visual stimulation effects and skill development