Brain–Computer Interfaces for Upper Limb Motor Recovery after Stroke: Current Status and Development Prospects (Review)

Abstract

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are a group of technologies that allow mental training with feedback for post-stroke motor recovery. Varieties of these technologies have been studied in numerous clinical trials for more than 10 years, and their construct and software are constantly being improved. Despite the positive treatment results and the availability of registered medical devices, there are currently a number of problems for the wide clinical application of BCI technologies. This review provides information on the most studied types of BCIs and its training protocols and describes the evidence base for the effectiveness of BCIs for upper limb motor recovery after stroke. The main problems of scaling this technology and ways to solve them are also described.

Brain–Computer Interfaces with Intracortical Implants for Motor and Communication Functions Compensation: Review of Recent Developments

“…Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs, neural interfaces) allow direct information exchange between the brain and the computer with the data transfer to an external technical device. Such interfaces include electrodes to record brain activity signals, a signal processing system (filtering, feature extraction, decoding, classification and conversion into a control command), as well as a controlled external technical device [1]. In case of invasive BCIs, the system can also send a signal in the opposite direction: from external sensors to neural implants in the cerebral cortex, thus ensuring neuromodulation (see the Figure) [2].…”