Target-directed motor imagery of the lower limb enhances event-related desynchronization

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 19;12(9):e0184245. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184245. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/S) is an electroencephalogram (EEG) feature widely used as control signals for Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). Nevertheless, the underlying neural mechanisms and functions of ERD/S are largely unknown, thus investigating them is crucial to improve the reliability of ERD/S-based BCIs. This study aimed to identify Motor Imagery (MI) conditions that enhance ERD/S. We investigated following three questions: 1) whether target-directed MI affects ERD/S, 2) whether MI with sound imagery affects ERD/S, and 3) whether ERD/S has a body part dependency of MI. Nine participants took part in the experiments of four MI conditions; they were asked to imagine right foot dorsiflexion (F), right foot dorsiflexion and the sound of a bass drum when the sole touched the floor (FS), right leg extension (L), and right leg extension directed toward a soccer ball (LT). Statistical comparison revealed that there were significant differences between conditions L and LT in beta-band ERD and conditions F and L in beta-band ERS. These results suggest that mental rehearsal of target-directed lower limb movement without real sensory stimuli can enhance beta-band ERD; furthermore, MI of foot dorsiflexion induces significantly larger beta-band ERS than that of leg extension. These findings could be exploited for the training of BCIs such as powered prosthetics for disabled person and neurorehabilitation system for stroke patients.

MeSH terms

  • Brain-Computer Interfaces*
  • Electrodes
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Knee Joint / physiology
  • Lower Extremity / physiology*
  • Male
  • Movement
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The research was partially supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/index.html) (Grant number JP26120005 and JP16H03219), and TK received the funding. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.