Feeling of Bodily Congruence to Visual Stimuli Improves Motor Imagery Based Brain-Computer Interface Control

Motor imagery based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) utilizes an electrophysiological phenomenon of EEG power decrease in alpha frequency band, but its larger inter-subject variability limits the practical use. Here we tested three types of visual feedback objects in BCI from abstract to realistic scenarios during motor imagery to see its effect on self-induced changes of EEG power decrease. Double case study in hemiplegic stroke participants was also conducted to check its feasibility as neuro-facilitatory technique on the motor system. We found that a first person perspective of realistic visual feedback, which copies the participant’s mental image, assisted the user to perform motor imagery resulting in generation of large EEG power decrease. The same result was found also in hemiplegic stroke patients. This study has clear implications for both the mechanism of mental process of motor imagery and the influence of feedback type on BCI performance.