Therapeutic applications of BCI technologies

Abstract

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology can restore communication and control to people who are severely paralyzed. There has been speculation that this technology might also be useful for a variety of diverse therapeutic applications. This survey considers possible ways that BCI technology can be applied to motor rehabilitation following stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and psychiatric disorders. We consider potential neural signals as well as the design and goals of BCI-based therapeutic applications. These diverse applications all share a reliance on neuroimaging and signal processing technologies. At the same time, each of these potential applications presents a series of unique challenges.

EEG-based brain–computer interfaces

“…In theory, a BCI might contribute to functional recovery in several different ways [5]. Dobkin [48] suggested that practical BCI systems could be used as a tool to reinforce the use of spared neural representations or to insure that subjects were optimally prepared to execute a particular movement.…”

“…To date, these studies have been mainly demonstrations of proof-of-principle: actual long-term BCI use by individuals who need them has been limited to a handful of case studies [e.g., 4]. More recently, investigators have become interested in other applications of BCI technology, particularly the possibility that they might enhance neurorehabilitation for people with strokes and other chronic disorders [5]. …”

The sixth international brain–computer interface meeting: advances in basic and clinical research

“…The first paper summarizes the 28 workshops; the next three papers provide detailed reports from three of them. One addresses the emerging therapeutic applications of BCIs [6]; the next is a detailed discussion of the advances made in BCIs for stroke rehabilitation [7]. Both review work in which a BCI aids recovery from disabling conditions, sometimes producing long-term effects that persist after BCI use is discontinued.…”

Classification of Imaginary motor task from Electroencephalographic Signals: A Comparison of Feature Selection Methods and Classification Algorithms

“…Of great interest is the SMR, these rhythms are observed as a decrease in the activity in the Alpha band (8)(9)(10)(11)(12) and Beta band (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) when the subject executes motor task. Interestingly the decrease in the power in the frequencies mentioned before is also observed when the subject imagines the movement, which is of especial interest in applications for people with degenerative diseases.…”

“…BCI systems are aimed to population who suffer from motor disabilities, making use of different phenomena present in the brain activity [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] . However, the application of BCI is not restricted only to rehabilitation.…”