Enhancing cortical rhythms through robotic glove-assisted motor imagery training

Abstract

Improving Motor Imagery (MI) results in amplified event-related Desynchronization/Synchoronization (ERD/ERS), which is crucial for MI-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCIs) and neuromotor rehabilitation. Several attempts to enhance MI by providing visual guidance have been reported, however, this can be improved by using robotic systems for Kinesthetic MI (KMI), such as robotic gloves for hand movements. In this study, a novel protocol based on KMI tasks is proposed to analyze cortical rhythms against a standard MI protocol based on static Action Observation (AO). The results allow concluding that the use of the robotic gloves increases the ERDs by 3% during MI tasks, where neuromodulations were found to be more focused on the C₃ and C₄ electrodes during right- and left-hand closing MI, respectively, compared to opening. In conclusion, the proposed strategy based on passive movement is feasible and can enhance MI, which can be used for designing most robust BCIs.