Connectivity Analysis Between EEG and EMG Signals by the Status of Movement Intention

Abstract

The brain and muscles both of which are composed of top-down structure occur the connectivity with the change of Electroencephalogram(EEG) and Electromyogram(EMG). In this paper, we studied the difference of functional connectivity between brain and muscles that by applying coherence method to EEG and EMG signals when users exercised upper limb with and without the movement intention. The changes in the EEG and EMG signals were inspected using coherence method. During the upper limb exercise, the mu (8~14 Hz) and beta (15~30 Hz) rhythms of the EEG signal at the motor cortex area are activated. And then the beta and piper (30~60 Hz) rhythms of the EMG signal are activated as well. The result of coherence analysis between EEG and EMG showed the coefficient of active exercise including movement intention is significantly higher than passive exercise. The coherence relations between cognitive response and muscle movement could interpret that the connectivity between the brain and muscle appear during active exercise with movement intention. The feature of coherence between brain and muscles by the status of movement intention will be useful in designing the rehabilitation system requiring feedback depending on the users' movement intention status.