Haptic Brain-Computer-Interfaces (BCI) in Stroke

2 Chronic stroke patients without residual movements of the paretic side do not respond to any available rehabilitation strategy. Recently BCI technology has been proposed for as a neurorehabilitation tool after stroke. It has been shown that learning of brain control (MEG-sensorimotor rhythm, SMR) in chronic stroke is possible but no substantial improvements in motor control and no generalization to functional recovery were accomplished. Previous work of this group demonstrated how BCI could be used as a tool in chronic stroke motor rehabilitation when linking contingently and online brain activity (due to movement intention) and movement (the same intentioned movement assisted by robotic orthoses). In this work 32 chronic stroke patients without residual finger extension underwent BCI training coupled with behavioral physical therapy. The patients were divided in two groups. The e[SHULPHQWDO JURXS UHFHLYHG § VHVVLRQV RI FRQWLQJHQW BCI-training: ipsilesional SMR-desynchronisation was linked to movements of robotic orthoses (arm/hand) fixed to the paralysed limb. The control group (sham) received the same training but movement of the orthotic device was randomized and independent of SMR-change. Both groups received identical behavioral physiotherapy related to the same movements trained after every BCI-session. The experimental group showed a significant continuous improvement in EMG activity and control in the paralyzed hand and arm during the intervention.