Motor Imagery Performance through Embodied Digital Twins in a Virtual Reality-Enabled Brain-Computer Interface...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Traditional neurological rehabilitation lacks patient engagement due to limited immersion.
• Motor imagery (MI) leverages neural mechanisms for motor recovery by visualizing movement.
• Current methods struggle to provide interactive and responsive feedback for MI-based therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative framework for neurological rehabilitation using BCI and VR.
• To enhance patient engagement and motor imagery performance through immersive experiences.
• To create a system translating imagined movements into avatar actions for improved rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Integration of electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI with VR technology.
• Utilizing motor imagery (MI) for neural pathway activation.
• Employing personalized 3D avatars (Digital Twins) to increase immersion and embodiment.

Main Results:

• The system enables real-time translation of imagined movements into avatar actions.
• Provides immediate, interactive feedback to users, reinforcing neural pathways.
• Demonstrates potential for a more engaging and effective rehabilitation experience.

Conclusions:

• The BCI-VR framework with 3D avatars offers a novel approach to neurological rehabilitation.
• Enhanced immersion and embodiment through personalized avatars improve MI performance.
• This system paves the way for more interactive and responsive motor recovery therapies.