Remapping cortical modulation for electrocorticographic brain-computer interfaces: a somatotopy-based approach in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology offers a potential pathway to restore function for individuals with paralysis.
• Electrocorticography (ECoG) provides high-resolution neural recordings, making it a promising modality for BCI systems.
• Previous work demonstrated a spinal cord injury patient controlling a BCI with three degrees of freedom using ECoG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of ECoG-based BCIs for individuals with upper-limb paralysis.
• To expand on previous findings by including subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and brachial plexus injury.
• To explore the utility of both motor and somatosensory cortical areas for BCI control.

Main Methods:

• Implanted high-density ECoG electrode grids over sensorimotor cortex for under 30 days.
• Trained subjects to control a BCI using a somatotopic strategy based on high-gamma activity from attempted arm/hand movements.
• Recorded and analyzed cortical activity during attempted limb movements.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated robust and differentiable cortical modulation corresponding to attempted arm and hand movements.
• All subjects successfully controlled a computer cursor with up to three degrees of freedom using the ECoG-based BCI.
• Somatosensory cortex, when covered by electrodes, also supported ECoG-based BCI control.

Conclusions:

• ECoG-based BCIs are feasible for individuals with paralysis, offering a potential avenue for functional restoration.
• The study highlights the capability of both motor and somatosensory cortices in supporting BCI control.
• Further research is needed to address challenges for clinical translation of ECoG-BCI systems.