Robotic orthosis compared to virtual hand for Brain–Computer Interface feedback

Publication date: Available online 13 December 2018Source: Biocybernetics and Biomedical EngineeringAuthor(s): Jessica Cantillo-Negrete, Ruben I. Carino-Escobar, Paul Carrillo-Mora, José A. Barraza-Madrigal, Oscar Arias-CarriónAbstractBrain–Computer Interfaces (BCI) allow the control of external devices by decoding the users’ intentions from their central nervous system. Feedback, one of the main elements of a closed-loop BCI, is used to enhance the user's performance. The present work aimed to compare the effect of two different feedback sources; congruent anatomical visual hand representation and passive hand movement on BCI performance and cortical activations. Electroencephalography of 12 healthy right-handed subjects was recorded to set a BCI activated by right-hand motor imagery. Afterward, the subjects were asked to control the system by imagining the movement. The system provided either visual feedback, shown on a computer screen or kinesthetic feedback, provided by a robotic hand orthosis. Differences in performance and cortical activations were assessed, using classification accuracy and event-related desynchronization/synchronization in μ and β bands, respectively. Performance was significantly better with kinesthetic feedback as it allowed for higher correct classification of motor imagery. Cortical activations in the ipsilateral central channel in μ were different between the two feedback modalities. Our results imply that healthy subjects can achieve a ...
Source: Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering - Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research