Background: This study focused on developing an upper limb rehabilitation program. In this regard, a steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) triggered brain computer interface (BCI)-functional electrical stimulation (FES) based action observation game featuring a flickering action video was designed.
Objective: In particular, the synergetic effect of the game was investigated by combining the action observation paradigm with BCI based FES.
Methods: The BCI-FES system was contrasted under two conditions: with flickering action video and flickering noise video. In this regard, 11 right-handed subjects aged between 22-27 years were recruited. The differences in brain activation in response to the two conditions were examined.
Results: The results indicate that T3 and P3 channels exhibited greater Mu suppression in 8-13 Hz for the action video than the noise video. Furthermore, T4, C4, and P4 channels indicated augmented high beta (21-30 Hz) for the action in contrast to the noise video. Finally, T4 indicated suppressed low beta (14-20 Hz) for the action video in contrast to the noise video.
Conclusion: The flickering action video based BCI-FES system induced a more synergetic effect on cortical activation than the flickering noise based system.
Keywords: Brain computer interface (BCI); action observation; flickering action video; functional electrical stimulation (FES); mirror neuron system (MNS); rehabilitation; steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP); upper limb.