A new technique of rehabilitation training based on motor imagine using brain computer interface-functional electric stimulation system and it's effect on plasticity of brain of a stroke patient

Objective: To study the feasibility of brain computer interface combined with functional electric stimulation (BCI-FES) applied to a patient with stroke as a new rehabilitation training system and to explore its mechanism. Method: The participant was a 40 years old man with severe left-hand paralysis after stroke. He received 4 weeks training with BCI-FES system based on motor imagine. The motor function of upper limb was assessed and fMRI examination was conducted pre- and after training. Result: Maximum grasp-relax speed of affected hand increased by 24.7% after training. When motion task was executed the activations in primary motor area(M1) and supplement motor area(SMA) of ipsilateral hemisphere were observed with fMRI after training, and contralateral activations in M1 and premotor cortex(PMC) decreased in addition. When motor imagine task was executed, the activations transferred to bilateral SMA and ipsilateral posterior parietal after BCI training. Conclusion: BCI-FES was a kind of feasible rehabilitation therapy for stroke survivor. The mechanism of functional recovery by using BCI-FES was to promote the plasticity of central nervous system.