Measuring Changes in Cortical Processes during VR-aided Physical Exercise - an EEG-based Approach.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in physical therapy, showing promise for improved outcomes and patient engagement.
• The underlying neurological mechanisms driving VR's benefits in rehabilitation remain largely unelucidated.
• Understanding cortical changes during VR-assisted therapy is crucial for optimizing its clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify changes in cortical biometrics during VR immersion for a physical task.
• To compare cortical activation between VR and traditional video guidance during exercise.
• To investigate the influence of task intensity on cortical activity with and without VR.

Main Methods:

• Five healthy young adults participated in boxing exercises.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) with 64 channels was recorded during the tasks.
• Cortical activation was measured using EEG power spectral density (PSD) under VR and video conditions at moderate and advanced intensities.

Main Results:

• Cortical activation was significantly higher with VR compared to video guidance at advanced intensity levels (p < 0.001).
• Cortical activation increased proportionally with task intensity for both VR and video guidance (p < 0.001).
• VR use at higher intensities was associated with greater overall cortical activity.

Conclusions:

• EEG-based cortical activation patterns show potential as biomarkers in clinical rehabilitation settings.
• These biomarkers could track patient engagement during VR-based physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• VR technology may enhance neurological engagement during physical rehabilitation, particularly at higher exertion levels.