Brain-Computer Interface Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation System for Ankle Movement
By Do, An H.; Wang, Po T.; King, Christine E.; Abiri, Ahmad; Nenadic, Zoran; Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, Volume 8, Number 49Publication Date: August 26, 2011
Study undertaken to develop the integration of a noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) based brain computer interface (BCI) with a noninvasive functional electrical stimulation (FES) system that enables the direct brain control of foot dorsiflexion. Study participants were 5 able-bodied volunteers, 3 men and 2 women aged 24 to 56 years. Participants underwent computer-cued epochs of repetitive foot dorsiflexion and idling when seated before a monitor while their EEG signals were recorded and stored for offline analysis. The analysis generated a prediction model that allowed EEG data to be analyzed and classified in real time during online BCI operation. The real-time online performance of the integrated BCI-FES system was tested with participants, who performed 10 alternations of idling and repetitive foot dorsiflexion to trigger BCI-FES mediated dorsiflexion of the contralateral foot. The epochs of BCI-FES mediated foot dorsiflexion were highly correlated with the epochs of voluntary foot dorsiflexion with latencies ranging from 1.4 seconds to 3.1 seconds. In addition, all participants achieved a 100 percent BCI-FES response, and one participant had a single false alarm. Based on study results, the authors conclude that the integration of a noninvasive BCI with a lower extremity FES system appears to be feasible. With additional modifications, the proposed BCI-FES system may offer a novel and effective therapy in the neuro-rehabilitation of individuals with lower extremity paralysis due to neurological injuries.
Published by: BioMed Central Ltd (Website:http://www.biomedcentral.com)
Link to text: http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/pdf/1743-0003-8-49.pdf
