Effect of the VR-guided grasping task on the brain functional network.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) shows promise in rehabilitation, but its effects on brain functional networks are not fully understood.
• Understanding how VR games modulate neural activity is crucial for optimizing rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of VR game intervention on brain functional network topology during grasping tasks.
• To compare brain network changes during VR-guided grasping versus simple grasping and resting states.
• To explore the relationship between brain network properties and VR game performance.

Main Methods:

• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure brain hemodynamic signals in 18 healthy participants.
• Graph theory analysis, specifically phase locking values (PLV), was applied to assess brain network topological properties.
• Comparisons were made between resting state, simple grasping, and VR-guided grasping conditions.

Main Results:

• VR game intervention significantly altered brain network properties compared to the resting state.
• The VR-guided grasping task showed higher network modularity and a lower average clustering coefficient in the motor cortex.
• Increased clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and modularity correlated with better VR game performance.

Conclusions:

• VR game tasks offer a more effective modulation of brain functional networks than simple grasping movements.
• VR interventions may be beneficial for improving grasping abilities in individuals with hand paralysis, such as post-stroke patients.
• This study provides insights into the neural mechanisms underlying VR-based motor rehabilitation.