title: Changes in functional brain organization and behavioral correlations after rehabilitative therapy using a brain-computer interface.
abstract: This study aims to examine the changes in task-related brain activity induced by rehabilitative therapy using brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies and whether these changes are relevant to functional gains achieved through the use of these therapies. Stroke patients with persistent upper-extremity motor deficits received interventional rehabilitation therapy using a closed-loop neurofeedback BCI device (n = 8) or no therapy (n = 6). Behavioral assessments using the Stroke Impact Scale, the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) as well as task-based fMRI scans were conducted before, during, after, and 1 month after therapy administration or at analogous intervals in the absence of therapy. Laterality Index (LI) values during finger tapping of each hand were calculated for each time point and assessed for correlation with behavioral outcomes. Brain activity during finger tapping of each hand shifted over the course of BCI therapy, but not in the absence of therapy, to greater involvement of the non-lesioned hemisphere (and lesser involvement of the stroke-lesioned hemisphere) as measured by LI. Moreover, changes from baseline LI values during finger tapping of the impaired hand were correlated with gains in both objective and subjective behavioral measures. These findings suggest that the administration of interventional BCI therapy can induce differential changes in brain activity patterns between the lesioned and non-lesioned hemispheres and that these brain changes are associated with changes in specific motor functions.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Brittany M
authors: BM
authors: Young
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Zack
authors: Z
authors: Nigogosyan
authors: Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Léo M
authors: LM
authors: Walton
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Veena A
authors: VA
authors: Nair
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Scott W
authors: SW
authors: Grogan
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Mitchell E
authors: ME
authors: Tyler
authors: Departments of Kinesiology and Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Dorothy F
authors: DF
authors: Edwards
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Caldera
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Justin A
authors: JA
authors: Sattin
authors: Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Justin C
authors: JC
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA ; Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Prabhakaran
keywords: BCI therapy; LI; UE motor recovery; brain-computer interface; fMRI; laterality index; stroke rehabilitation