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Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis

Combining brain stimulation with a robotic device could help restore hand function in stroke patients

Date:
January 15, 2018
Source:
Society for Neuroscience
Summary:
A brain-machine interface that combines brain stimulation with a robotic device controlling hand movement increases the output of pathways connecting the brain and spinal cord, according to a study of healthy adults. This work could have implications for restoring function in stroke patients with hand paralysis.
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A brain-machine interface that combines brain stimulation with a robotic device controlling hand movement increases the output of pathways connecting the brain and spinal cord, according to a study of healthy adults published in JNeurosci. This work could have implications for restoring function in stroke patients with hand paralysis.

Alireza Gharabaghi and colleagues asked participants to imagine opening their hand without actually making any movement while their hand was placed in a device that passively opened and closed their fingers as it received the necessary input from their brain activity. The researchers demonstrate that stimulating the hand area of the motor cortex at the same time, but not after, the robotic device initiated hand movement increased the strength of the neural signal, most likely by harnessing the processing power of additional neurons in the corticospinal tract.

However, the signal decreased when participants were not required to imagine moving their hand. Delivering brain stimulation and robotic motor feedback simultaneously during rehabilitation may therefore be beneficial for patients who have lost voluntary muscle control.


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Materials provided by Society for Neuroscience. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Dominic Kraus, Georgios Naros, Robert Guggenberger, Maria Teresa Leão, Ulf Ziemann, Alireza Gharabaghi. Recruitment of additional corticospinal pathways in the human brain with state-dependent paired associative stimulation. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2018; 2893-17 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2893-17.2017

Cite This Page:

Society for Neuroscience. "Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 January 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180115151611.htm>.
Society for Neuroscience. (2018, January 15). Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180115151611.htm
Society for Neuroscience. "Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180115151611.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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