NEUROTECHNIX 2017: BCI and Immersive Virtual Reality for Post-Stroke Motor Rehabilitation

Sergi Bermúdez i Badia Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute - Universidade da Madeira Portugal Abstract Stroke is one of the most common causes of acquired disability, leaving numerous adults with cognitive and motor impairments, and affecting patients’ capability to live independently. In recent years, novel rehabilitation paradigms have been proposed to address the life-long plasticity of the brain to regain motor function. Among them, the use of a hybrid brain–computer interface (BCI)—virtual reality (VR) approach can combine a personalized motor training in a VR environment, exploiting brain mechanisms for action execution and observation, and a neuro-feedback paradigm using mental imagery as a way to engage secondary or indirect pathways to access undamaged cortico-spinal tracts. I will present the development and validation experiments of the proposed technology. More specifically, I will discuss the underlying neuroscientific principles, use of low cost EEG acquisition systems, the integration in immersive VR and the use of haptic technology. I will show how the proposed motor imagery driven BCI-VR system is usable, engaging and able to engage the desired brain motor areas. This novel technology enables stroke survivors without active movement to engage in more effective rehabilitation paradigms.