MEG-based neurofeedback for hand rehabilitation

Authors

Stephen T. Foldes, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, USA.Follow
Douglas J. Weber, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, USA.
Jennifer L. Collinger, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206, USA. collingr@pitt.edu.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Providing neurofeedback (NF) of motor-related brain activity in a biologically-relevant and intuitive way could maximize the utility of a brain-computer interface (BCI) for promoting therapeutic plasticity. We present a BCI capable of providing intuitive and direct control of a video-based grasp. METHODS: Utilizing magnetoencephalography's (MEG) high temporal and spatial resolution, we recorded sensorimotor rhythms (SMR) that were modulated by grasp or rest intentions. SMR modulation controlled the grasp aperture of a stop motion video of a human hand. The displayed hand grasp position was driven incrementally towards a closed or opened state and subjects were required to hold the targeted position for a time that was adjusted to change the task difficulty. RESULTS: We demonstrated that three individuals with complete hand paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI) were able to maintain brain-control of closing and opening a virtual hand with an average of 63 % success which was significantly above the average chance rate of 19 %. This level of performance was achieved without pre-training and less than 4 min of calibration. In addition, successful grasp targets were reached in 1.96 ± 0.15 s. Subjects performed 200 brain-controlled trials in approximately 30 min excluding breaks. Two of the three participants showed a significant improvement in SMR indicating that they had learned to change their brain activity within a single session of NF. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the utility of a MEG-based BCI system to provide realistic, efficient, and focused NF to individuals with paralysis with the goal of using NF to induce neuroplasticity.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; Brain-Computer Interfaces; Female; Humans; Magnetoencephalography (methods); Male; Neurofeedback (methods); Spinal Cord Injuries (rehabilitation)

Publication Date

9-22-2015

Publication Title

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation

E-ISSN

1743-0003

Volume

12

First Page

85

PubMed ID

26392353

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/s12984-015-0076-7

Recommended Citation

Foldes, Stephen T.; Weber, Douglas J.; and Collinger, Jennifer L., "MEG-based neurofeedback for hand rehabilitation" (2015). Translational Neuroscience. 2207.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/2207