BCI-STAR - Brain-Computer Interface: post STroke Arm Rehabilitation

Patients admitted to Neuroenhed Nord, Brønderslev with paralysis of the arm muscles have the opportunity to participate in the project.

Description
Brain computer interface (BCI) is a system that enables the human brain to work directly with an external device such as a computer.

The project will investigate whether a BCI system that uses feedback can be used as a rehabilitation tool for patients who have had a stroke.

Aim
The purpose of the project is to investigate how the brain changes control of a muscle after training. The training requires the patient to imagine or perform a movement. When the patient thinks of a movement, the researcher can measure it by decoding the patient's brain waves via a cap with electrodes on the patient's head. The brain waves that the patient produces can be used to recreate the movement that the patient imagines but that the patient is not yet able to because of the paralysis. This is done by stimulating the nerve that activates the muscles that are responsible for the movement. The patient has electrodes on the muscle of the arm that is part of the movement.

The timing between thinking about the movement and electrical stimulation of the nerve responsible for the movement is central. The experience / feedback from the movement is thought to promote the brain's re-learning of movement.

Research participants
The project is led by doctor, PhD student Benjamin Svejgaard, Department of Neurology, Aalborg University Hospital in collaboration with Andrew Stevenson, Associate Professor, PhD, Aalborg University.

From Neuroenhed Nord, development therapist Helle R. Jørgensen participates as well as occupational therapists and physiotherapists, who provide clinical testing of arm function in patients in the project.