Decoding the brain-machine interaction for upper limb assistive technologies: advances and challenges

Understanding how the brain encodes upper limb movements is crucial for developing control mechanisms in assistive technologies. Advances in assistive technologies, particularly Brain-machine Interfaces (BMIs), highlight the importance of decoding motor intentions and kinematics for effective control. EEG-based BMI systems show promise due to their non-invasive nature and potential for inducing neural plasticity, enhancing motor rehabilitation outcomes. While EEG-based BMIs show potential for decoding motor intention and kinematics, studies indicate inconsistent correlations with actual or planned movements, posing challenges for achieving precise and reliable prosthesis control. Further, the variability in predictive EEG patterns across individuals necessitates personalized tuning to improve BMI efficiency. Integrating multiple physiological signals could enhance BMI precision and reliability, paving the way for more effective motor rehabilitation strategies. Studies have shown that brain activity adapts to gravitational and inertial constraints during movement, highlighting the critical role of neural adaptation to biomechanical changes in creating control systems for assistive devices. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent progress in deciphering neural activity patterns associated with both physiological and assisted upper limb movements, highlighting avenues for future exploration in neurorehabilitation and brain-machine interface development.