Combining brain-computer interface and virtual reality for rehabilitation in neurological diseases: A narrative review

Dong Wen; Yali Fan; Sheng-Hsiou Hsu; Jian Xu; Yanhong Zhou; Jianxin Tao; Xifa Lan; Fengnian Li

doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2020.03.015

Combining brain-computer interface and virtual reality for rehabilitation in neurological diseases: A narrative review

Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2021 Jan;64(1):101404. doi: 10.1016/j.rehab.2020.03.015. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Authors

Dong Wen¹, Yali Fan², Sheng-Hsiou Hsu³, Jian Xu², Yanhong Zhou⁴, Jianxin Tao⁵, Xifa Lan⁶, Fengnian Li⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China; The Key Laboratory for Computer Virtual Technology and System Integration of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China. Electronic address: xjwd@ysu.edu.cn.
² School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China; The Key Laboratory for Computer Virtual Technology and System Integration of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China.
³ Swartz Center for Computational Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
⁴ School of Information Science and Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China; School of Mathematics and Information Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, China. Electronic address: yhzhou168@163.com.
⁵ Information Technology Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China.
⁶ Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, China.
⁷ Yanshan University Library, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China.

PMID: 32561504
DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2020.03.015

Abstract

Background: The traditional rehabilitation for neurological diseases lacks the active participation of patients, its process is monotonous and tedious, and the effects need to be improved. Therefore, a new type of rehabilitation technology with more active participation combining brain-computer interface (BCI) with virtual reality (VR) has developed rapidly in recent years and has been used in rehabilitation in neurological diseases.

Objectives: This narrative review analyzed and characterized the development and application of the new training system (BCI-VR) in rehabilitation of neurological diseases from the perspective of the BCI paradigm, to provide a pathway for future research in this field.

Methods: The review involved a search of the Web of Science-Science Citation Index/Social Sciences Citation Index and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases; 39 papers were selected. Advantages and challenges of BCI-VR - based neurological rehabilitation were analyzed in detail.

Results: Most BCI-VR studies included could be classified by 3 major BCI paradigms: motor imagery, P300, and steady-state visual-evoked potential. Integrating VR scenes into BCI systems could effectively promote the recovery process from nervous system injuries as compared with traditional methods.

Conclusion: As compared with rehabilitation based on traditional BCI, rehabilitation based on BCI-VR can provide better feedback information for patients and promote the recovery of brain function. By solving the challenges and continual development, the BCI-VR system can be broadly applied to the clinical treatment of various neurological diseases.

Keywords: Brain-computer interface; Neurological diseases; Rehabilitation; Virtual reality.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Brain-Computer Interfaces*
Humans
Nervous System Diseases* / rehabilitation
Neurological Rehabilitation*
User-Computer Interface
Virtual Reality*