Ipsilesional Mu Rhythm Desynchronization and Changes in Motor Behavior following Post Stroke BCI Intervention for Motor Rehabilitation

Lots of big words but useless since NO protocol is referred to and where to find that protocol. Oh well, another piece of research that didn't address stroke rehab needs. Every single stroke research should layout where in the stroke strategy they fit and create and distribute protocols worldwide. Just writing this stuff is only the beginning of your responsibility.  I hate to imagine how many Ph.Ds here don't understand what stroke research is for and required outcomes.

Ipsilesional Mu Rhythm Desynchronization and Changes in Motor Behavior following Post Stroke BCI Intervention for Motor Rehabilitation 

Alexander B. Remsik^{1, 2, 3*}, Leroy M. Williams^{1, 4, 5}, Klevest Gjini^{1, 6}, Keith C. Dodd^{1, 7}, Jaclyn M. Thoma^{1, 8}, Tyler A. Jacobson¹, Matt Walczak¹, Matt McMillian¹, Shruti Rajan¹, Brittany M. Young^{1, 3, 8, 9, 10}, Zack Nigogosyan¹, Hemali Advani¹, Rosaleena Mohanty^{1, 11}, Neelima Tellapragada¹, Janerra Allen¹, Mohsen Mazrooyisebdani¹, Leo Walton^{1, 8}, PETER L. VAN KAN^{1, 2}, Theresa J. Kang^{1, 6}, Justin A. Sattin^{1, 6, 8}, Veena A. Nair¹, Dorothy Edwards¹, Justin C. Williams^{1, 7, 12} and Vivek Prabhakaran^{1, 4, 6, 8, 10}

• ¹Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ²Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ³Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ⁴Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ⁵Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ⁶Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ⁷Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin System, United States
• ⁸Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ⁹Clinical Neuroengineering Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ¹⁰Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ¹¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• ¹²Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States

Loss of motor function is a common deficit following stroke insult and often manifests as persistent upper extremity (UE) disability which can affect a survivor's ability to participate in activities of daily living. Recent research suggests the use of brain-computer interface (BCI) devices might improve UE function in stroke survivors at various times since stroke. This randomized crossover-controlled trial examines whether intervention with this BCI device design attenuates the effects of hemiparesis, encourages reorganization of motor related brain signals (EEG measured sensorimotor rhythm desynchronization), and improves movement, as measured by the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). A sample of 21 stroke survivors, presenting with varied times since stroke and levels of UE impairment, received a maximum of 18 - 30 hours of intervention with a novel electroencephalogram-based BCI-driven functional electrical stimulator (EEG-BCI-FES) device. Driven by spectral power recordings from contralateral EEG electrodes during cued attempted grasping of the hand, the user’s input to the EEG-BCI-FES device modulates horizontal movement of a virtual cursor and also facilitates concurrent stimulation of the impaired upper extremity. Outcome measures of function and capacity were assessed at baseline, mid-therapy, and at completion of therapy while EEG was recorded only during intervention sessions. A significant increase in r-squared values (reflecting Mu rhythm [8-12Hz] desynchronization as the result of attempted movements of the impaired hand) presented post-therapy compared to baseline. These findings suggest that intervention corresponds with greater desynchronization of Mu rhythm in the ipsilesional hemisphere during attempted movements of the impaired hand and this change is related to changes in behavior as a result of the intervention. BCI intervention may be an effective way of addressing the recovery of a stroke impaired upper extremity and studying neuromechanical coupling with motor outputs.

Keywords: Brain-computer interface, stroke rehabilitation, motor recovery, Upper Extremity, hemiparesis, Electroencephalography (EEG), R-squared, coherence, Chronic Disease, Acute Disease

Received: 01 Mar 2018; Accepted: 21 Jan 2019.

Edited by:
Ioan Opris, University of Miami, United States

Reviewed by:
Ranganatha Sitaram, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile
David T. Bundy, University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, United States  

Copyright: © 2019 Remsik, Williams, Gjini, Dodd, Thoma, Jacobson, Walczak, McMillian, Rajan, Young, Nigogosyan, Advani, Mohanty, Tellapragada, Allen, Mazrooyisebdani, Walton, VAN KAN, Kang, Sattin, Nair, Edwards, Williams and Prabhakaran. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Mr. Alexander B. Remsik, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychiatry, Madison, 53719, WI, United States, aremsik@wisc.edu