Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Using Motor Imagery Brain-Computer Interface to Improve Motor and Cognitive Function in Stroke Patients
Published on: September 1, 2023
The Promotoer, a brain-computer interface-assisted intervention to promote upper limb functional motor recovery after
Marta Cipriani1,2, Floriana Pichiorri3, Emma Colamarino3,4
1Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Background:
Electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow to modulate the sensorimotor rhythms and are emerging technologies for promoting post-stroke motor function recovery. The Promotoer study aims to assess the short and long-term efficacy of the Promotoer system, an EEG-based BCI assisting motor imagery (MI) practice, in enhancing post-stroke functional hand motor recovery. This paper details the statistical analysis plan of the Promotoer study.
Methods:
The Promotoer study is a randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, single-centre, superiority trial, with two parallel groups and a 1:1 allocation ratio. Subacute stroke patients are randomized to EEG-based BCI-assisted MI training or to MI training alone (i.e. no BCI). An internal pilot study for sample size re-assessment is planned. The primary outcome is the effectiveness of the Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA) score. Secondary outcomes include clinical, functional, and user experience scores assessed at the end of intervention and at follow-up. Neurophysiological assessments are also planned. Effectiveness formulas have been specified, and intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations have been defined. Statistical methods for comparisons of groups and for development of a predictive score of significant improvement are described. Explorative subgroup analyses and methodology to handle missing data are considered.
Discussion:
The Promotoer study will provide robust evidence for the short/long-term efficacy of the Promotoer system in subacute stroke patients undergoing a rehabilitation program. Moreover, the development of a predictive score of response will allow transferring of the Promotoer system to optimal clinical practice. By carefully describing the statistical principles and procedures, the statistical analysis plan provides transparency in the analysis of data.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04353297 . Registered on April 15, 2020.
More Related Videos
06:11Brain-Computer Interface-controlled Upper Limb Robotic System for Enhancing Daily Activities in Stroke Patients
Published on: April 18, 2025
04:49Author Spotlight: Enhancing Post-Stroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation with Robotic Technologies for Improved Motor Recovery and Functional Outcomes
Published on: September 6, 2024