l1-penalized linear mixed-effects models for high dimensional data with application to BCI

Recently, a novel statistical model has been proposed to estimate population effects and individual variability between subgroups simultaneously, by extending Lasso methods. We will for the first time apply this so-called l(1)-penalized linear regression mixed-effects model for a large scale real world problem: we study a large set of brain computer interface data and through the novel estimator are able to obtain a subject-independent classifier that compares favorably with prior zero-training algorithms. This unifying model inherently compensates shifts in the input space attributed to the individuality of a subject. In particular we are now for the first time able to differentiate within-subject and between-subject variability. Thus a deeper understanding both of the underlying statistical and physiological structures of the data is gained. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.