title: Brain-computer interface training combined with transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with chronic severe hemiparesis: Proof of concept study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain-computer interface technology has been applied to stroke patients to improve their motor function. Event-related desynchronization during motor imagery, which is used as a brain-computer interface trigger, is sometimes difficult to detect in stroke patients. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is known to increase event-related desynchronization. This study investigated the adjunctive effect of anodal tDCS for brain-computer interface training in patients with severe hemiparesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with chronic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were divided between a brain-computer interface group and a tDCS- brain-computer interface group and participated in a 10-day brain-computer interface training. Event-related desynchronization was detected in the affected hemisphere during motor imagery of the affected fingers. The tDCS-brain-computer interface group received anodal tDCS before brain-computer interface training. Event-related desynchronization was evaluated before and after the intervention. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment upper extremity motor score (FM-U) was assessed before, immediately after, and 3 months after, the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Event-related desynchronization was significantly increased in the tDCS- brain-computer interface group. The FM-U was significantly increased in both groups. The FM-U improvement was maintained at 3 months in the tDCS-brain-computer interface group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anodal tDCS can be a conditioning tool for brain-computer interface training in patients with severe hemiparetic stroke.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Kasashima-Shindo
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Fujiwara
authors: Junichi
authors: J
authors: Ushiba
authors: Yayoi
authors: Y
authors: Matsushika
authors: Daiki
authors: D
authors: Kamatani
authors: Misa
authors: M
authors: Oto
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Ono
authors: Atsuko
authors: A
authors: Nishimoto
authors: Keiichiro
authors: K
authors: Shindo
authors: Michiyuki
authors: M
authors: Kawakami
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Tsuji
authors: Meigen
authors: M
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*