title: Exploration of the neural correlates of cerebral palsy for sensorimotor BCI control.
abstract: Cerebral palsy (CP) includes a broad range of disorders, which can result in impairment of posture and movement control. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been proposed as assistive devices for individuals with CP. Better understanding of the neural processing underlying motor control in affected individuals could lead to more targeted BCI rehabilitation and treatment options. We have explored well-known neural correlates of movement, including event-related desynchronization (ERD), phase synchrony, and a recently-introduced measure of phase dynamics, in participants with CP and healthy control participants. Although present, significantly less ERD and phase locking were found in the group with CP. Additionally, inter-group differences in phase dynamics were also significant. Taken together these findings suggest that users with CP exhibit lower levels of motor cortex activation during motor imagery, as reflected in lower levels of ongoing mu suppression and less functional connectivity. These differences indicate that development of BCIs for individuals with CP may pose additional challenges beyond those faced in providing BCIs to healthy individuals.
authors: Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology Graz, Austria ; Brain Embodiment Lab, School of Systems Engineering, University of Reading Reading, UK.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Daly
authors: Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology Graz, Austria ; BioTechMed-Graz Graz, Austria.
authors: Josef
authors: J
authors: Faller
authors: Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology Graz, Austria ; BioTechMed-Graz Graz, Austria ; Clinic Judendorf-Strassengel Judendorf-Strassengel, Austria.
authors: Reinhold
authors: R
authors: Scherer
authors: Memory and Consciousness Research Group, University Clinic for Neurology and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: Catherine M
authors: CM
authors: Sweeney-Reed
authors: Brain Embodiment Lab, School of Systems Engineering, University of Reading Reading, UK.
authors: Slawomir J
authors: SJ
authors: Nasuto
authors: Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology Graz, Austria ; BioTechMed-Graz Graz, Austria.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Billinger
authors: Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology Graz, Austria ; BioTechMed-Graz Graz, Austria.
authors: Gernot R
authors: GR
authors: Müller-Putz
keywords: brain-computer interface (BCI); cerebral palsy; electroencephalogram (EEG); event-related desynchronization (ERD); phase dynamics; phase synchrony; sensorimotor rhythm