Event-Related Desynchronization Induced by Tactile Imagery: an EEG Study

It is well known that both hand movements and mental representations of movement lead to event-related desynchronization (ERD) of the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded over the corresponding cortical motor areas. However, the relationship between ERD in somatosensory cortical areas and mental representations of tactile sensations is not well understood. In this study, we employed EEG recordings in healthy humans to compare the effects of real and imagined vibrotactile stimulation of the right hand. Both real and imagined sensations produced contralateral ERD patterns, particularly in the μ-band and most significantly in the C3 region. Building on these results and the previous literature, we discuss the role of tactile imagery as part of the complex body image and the potential for using EEG patterns induced by tactile imagery as control signals in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Combining this approach with motor imagery (MI) could improve the performance of BCIs intended for rehabilitation of sensorimotor function after stroke and neural trauma.