Improving pre-movement patterns detection with multi-dimensional EEG features for readiness potential decrease

<i>Objective.</i>The readiness potential (RP) is an important neural characteristic in motor preparation-based brain-computer interface. In our previous research, we observed a significant decrease of the RP amplitude in some cases, which severely affects the pre-movement patterns detection. In this paper, we aimed to improve the accuracy (Acc) of pre-movement patterns detection in the condition of RP decrease.<i>Approach.</i>We analyzed multi-dimensional EEG features in terms of time-frequency, brain networks, and cross-frequency coupling (CFC). And, a multi-dimensional Electroencephalogram feature combination (MEFC) algorithm was proposed. The features used include: (1) waveforms of the RP; (2) energy in alpha and beta bands; (3) brain network in alpha and beta bands; and (4) CFC value between 2 and 10 Hz.<i>Main results.</i>By employing support vector machines, the MEFC method achieved an average recognition rate of 88.9% and 85.5% under normal and RP decrease conditions, respectively. Compared to classical algorithm, the average Acc for both tasks improved by 7.8% and 8.8% respectively.<i>Significance.</i>This method can effectively improve the Acc of pre-movement patterns decoding in the condition of RP decrease.