An associative Brain-Computer-Interface for acute stroke patients

An efficient innovative Brain-Computer-Interface system that empowers chronic stroke patients to control an artificial activation of their lower limb muscle through task specific motor intent has been tested in the past. In the current study it was applied to acute stroke patients. The system consists in detecting the movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) using scalp electrodes as the patient attempts to perform a dorsiflexion task. This is translated into the control command for an electrical stimulator to generate a stimulus to the nerve that innervates and thus activates the prime mover (tibialis anterior). This activation is precisely and individually timed such that the sensory signal arising from the stimulation reaches the motor cortex during its maximum activation due to the intention. The output of the motor cortical area representing the dorsiflexor muscles was significantly enhanced in all patients tested following a single session of 30 repetitions. All patients were able to perform the intervention with minimal training and very few repetitions, making this a feasible new efficient approach for restoration of motor function in stroke patients. Such few necessary applications of the protocol make it a unique approach in comparison to available techniques and paves the way for at home use devices.