A novel musical instrument was created using electroencephalogram (EEG) motor imagery to control a synthesized piano, and is herein named the Encephalophone. Alpha-frequency (8-12 Hz) signal power, originating from either posterior dominant rhythm (PDR) in the occipital cortex or from mu rhythm in the motor cortex, was used to create a power scale which was then converted into a musical scale which could be manipulated by the individual. Subjects could then generate different notes of the scale by activation (event-related synchronization) or de-activation (event-related desynchronization) of the PDR or mu rhythms in occipital or motor cortex, respectively.
Encephalophone