Sensorimotor modulation assessment and brain-computer interface training in disorders of consciousness

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Disorders of consciousness, such as the minimally conscious state, present significant challenges in assessing awareness and facilitating communication.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer a potential avenue for detecting residual cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of using an EEG-based BCI to assess awareness in individuals with a minimally conscious state.
• To determine if these patients can learn to modulate sensorimotor rhythms using auditory and visual feedback.

Main Methods:

• Four participants in a minimally conscious state underwent an initial assessment using motor imagery tasks (imagined hand movement or toe wiggling) to modulate EEG signals.
• Training sessions involved providing real-time visual and/or auditory feedback to enhance the participants' ability to control sensorimotor rhythms.
• Analyses included within-subject and within-group assessments of brain activation and BCI classification accuracy.

Main Results:

• All participants exhibited significant and appropriate brain activation during motor imagery tasks.
• Consistent brain activation patterns were observed across multiple BCI training sessions.
• Real-time feedback facilitated improved arousal and modulation of sensorimotor rhythms.

Conclusions:

• EEG-based BCI technology demonstrates potential for assessing awareness in patients with a minimally conscious state.
• Individuals in a minimally conscious state may possess the capacity to operate a basic BCI communication system, irrespective of overt motor control.
• This technology opens new possibilities for communication and interaction for severely brain-injured individuals.