Experimental Protocol to Assess Neuromuscular Plasticity Induced by an Exoskeleton Training Session

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Robotics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Exoskeleton gait rehabilitation shows promise for neurological conditions but lacks user adaptability.
• Current robotic systems struggle with fine-tuning to individual physiological changes and seamless human-machine interaction.
• Physiological signal interfaces, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG), offer a potential solution for adaptive control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify short-term neuro-muscular plasticity after a single exoskeleton gait training session in post-stroke individuals and controls.
• To assess the feasibility of using physiological signals (EEG, EMG) to predict lower limb motor trajectories for robotic control.
• To compare muscle activation patterns during exoskeleton-assisted gait between stroke survivors and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an active exoskeleton with full, adaptive, and free modes.
• Collected data via EEG, EMG, and inertial sensors to measure cortical, muscular, and motion activity.
• Participants walked in a corridor pre- and post-training with and without the exoskeleton, using different modes.

Main Results:

• Quantitative estimation of short-term neuroplasticity in brain connectivity among chronic stroke survivors post-training.
• Comparison of muscle activation patterns during exoskeleton-assisted gait in stroke survivors versus controls.
• Feasibility analysis of decoding gait intentions from physiological signals.

Conclusions:

• Exoskeleton gait training can induce measurable neuroplasticity in stroke survivors.
• Physiological signals show potential for decoding gait intentions, enabling adaptive robotic control.
• This research advances the development of user-adaptive exoskeleton rehabilitation technologies.