Application and prospects of brain-computer interface technology for motor function reconstruction after brachial...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Brachial plexus injury (BPI) causes severe upper limb dysfunction, with traditional treatments yielding suboptimal outcomes.
• Limited functional recovery in BPI is attributed to biomechanical constraints and slow neural regeneration.
• Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology presents an innovative strategy for motor function restoration in BPI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review BCI applications in BPI rehabilitation.
• To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying BCI's effectiveness.
• To identify technical challenges hindering BCI's clinical translation for BPI.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recent research on neural repair mechanisms relevant to BCI.
• Evaluation of clinical applications of BCI-controlled neuroprosthetics for BPI.
• Investigation of novel biomaterials for BCI system enhancement.

Main Results:

• BCI aids cortical remapping and muscle activation via a "neural bypass" in BPI, preventing atrophy and restoring agency.
• BCI-mediated neuromodulation shows potential for alleviating deafferentation pain by reducing cortical hyperexcitability.
• Advancements in conductive hydrogels and hybrid BCI systems improve signal stability and control accuracy.

Conclusions:

• BCI technology offers a paradigm shift from mechanical substitution to biological reactivation for BPI.
• Addressing signal reliability and developing personalized BCI systems are crucial for clinical adoption in BPI rehabilitation.