LUPIN: Making Brain-Computer Interfaces More Reliable for Rehabilitation and Assistive Care

Nuno Garcia.

FCiências.ID – Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal.

Brain–computer interfaces can help people with neurological conditions communicate or control assistive devices, but their performance often declines outside controlled laboratory settings. Changes in fatigue, emotion, attention and movement can make brain signals difficult to interpret. This project aims to develop a system that is more accessible, reliable and user-friendly for rehabilitation and everyday care.

LUPIN combines brain signals with physiological and behavioural information, including heart activity, eye behaviour, skin conductance and movement. This broader context helps the system identify changes in the user’s state and predict motor intentions more accurately. The approach is designed to work across different environments and devices, reducing the need for complex equipment, lengthy calibration and intensive clinical support.

This system could enable people to use brain–computer interfaces at home and in community settings, not only in specialised laboratories. In turn, this would support neurorehabilitation, assistive communication and greater independence and quality of life in people affected by neurological conditions.

STAGE 1