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Main Authors: Zeng, Yuwen, Hou, Dengzhe, Zhang, Zhang, Sun, Sai, Huang, Yongsong, Tseng, Chia-huei, Shioiri, Satoshi
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.18251
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author Zeng, Yuwen
Hou, Dengzhe
Zhang, Zhang
Sun, Sai
Huang, Yongsong
Tseng, Chia-huei
Shioiri, Satoshi
author_facet Zeng, Yuwen
Hou, Dengzhe
Zhang, Zhang
Sun, Sai
Huang, Yongsong
Tseng, Chia-huei
Shioiri, Satoshi
contents Self-initiated attention shifts play a critical role in voluntary behavior but are difficult to study due to the absence of explicit temporal markers. While previous studies have examined their neural correlates, it remains unclear how multi-dimensional electroencephalography (EEG) features contribute to their characterization within an interpretable computational framework. In this study, we build on an experimental paradigm developed in our previous work, which enables controlled comparison between task-constrained self-initiated shifts and externally instructed shifts under identical visual stimulation. Within this setting, we investigate whether preparatory EEG activity can distinguish these two types of attention shifts. We adopt a machine learning-based approach and conduct two complementary analyses: (1) a performance-oriented assessment of frequency-specific topographic patterns, and (2) a model-based feature attribution analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). These analyses provide a structured view of how spectral features across regions of interest contribute to model behavior. Our results demonstrate reliable within-subject classification performance, indicating that preparatory EEG activity contains subject-specific discriminative information within this paradigm. The analysis shows that higher-frequency bands and frontal regions contribute strongly to model decisions, although such contributions should be interpreted cautiously due to the potential influence of non-neural artifacts in high-frequency EEG signals. Overall, this work highlights the value of interpretable machine learning for analyzing subject-specific EEG signal patterns in a controlled experimental setting, with potential applications in personalized and asynchronous brain-machine interface systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_18251
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Subject-Specific Analysis of Self-Initiated Attention Shifts from EEG with Controlled Internal and External Attention Conditions
Zeng, Yuwen
Hou, Dengzhe
Zhang, Zhang
Sun, Sai
Huang, Yongsong
Tseng, Chia-huei
Shioiri, Satoshi
Signal Processing
Machine Learning
Neurons and Cognition
Self-initiated attention shifts play a critical role in voluntary behavior but are difficult to study due to the absence of explicit temporal markers. While previous studies have examined their neural correlates, it remains unclear how multi-dimensional electroencephalography (EEG) features contribute to their characterization within an interpretable computational framework. In this study, we build on an experimental paradigm developed in our previous work, which enables controlled comparison between task-constrained self-initiated shifts and externally instructed shifts under identical visual stimulation. Within this setting, we investigate whether preparatory EEG activity can distinguish these two types of attention shifts. We adopt a machine learning-based approach and conduct two complementary analyses: (1) a performance-oriented assessment of frequency-specific topographic patterns, and (2) a model-based feature attribution analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). These analyses provide a structured view of how spectral features across regions of interest contribute to model behavior. Our results demonstrate reliable within-subject classification performance, indicating that preparatory EEG activity contains subject-specific discriminative information within this paradigm. The analysis shows that higher-frequency bands and frontal regions contribute strongly to model decisions, although such contributions should be interpreted cautiously due to the potential influence of non-neural artifacts in high-frequency EEG signals. Overall, this work highlights the value of interpretable machine learning for analyzing subject-specific EEG signal patterns in a controlled experimental setting, with potential applications in personalized and asynchronous brain-machine interface systems.
title Subject-Specific Analysis of Self-Initiated Attention Shifts from EEG with Controlled Internal and External Attention Conditions
topic Signal Processing
Machine Learning
Neurons and Cognition
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.18251