Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Non-Invasive Electrical Brain Stimulation Montages for Modulation of Human Motor Function
Published on: February 4, 2016
Influence of motor imagination on cortical activation during functional electrical stimulation
Clare Reynolds1, Bethel A Osuagwu1, Aleksandra Vuckovic1
1Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, James Watt Building (South), G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK.
Objective:
Motor imagination (MI) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) can activate the sensory-motor cortex through efferent and afferent pathways respectively. Motor imagination can be used as a control strategy to activate FES through a brain-computer interface as the part of a rehabilitation therapy. It is believed that precise timing between the onset of MI and FES is important for strengthening the cortico-spinal pathways but it is not known whether prolonged MI during FES influences cortical response.
Methods:
Electroencephalogram was measured in ten able-bodied participants using MI strategy to control FES through a BCI system. Event related synchronisation/desynchronisation (ERS/ERD) over the sensory-motor cortex was analysed and compared in three paradigms: MI before FES, MI before and during FES and FES alone activated automatically.
Results:
MI practiced both before and during FES produced strongest ERD. When MI only preceded FES it resulted in a weaker beta ERD during FES than when FES was activated automatically. Following termination of FES, beta ERD returns to the baseline level within 0.5s while alpha ERD took longer than 1s.
Conclusions:
When MI and FES are combined for rehabilitation purposes it is recommended that MI is practiced throughout FES activation period.
Significance:
The study is relevant for neurorehabilitation of movement.
