A motor imagery BCI for rehabilitation of phantom limb pain

1. BackgroundPhantom limb pain (PLP) is a heterogeneous neuropathic pain and observed in 45-85% of amputees. Varioustreatment methods including pharmacologic, physical mirror therapy (MT), Virtual and augmented realitybased MT have been reported to be effective despite their limitations. The AR based method could engagethe subject and facilitate the rehabilitation exercise. Objective: In this study, we aim to design an AR basedBCI system for rehabilitation of PLP.2. MethodThe subjects’ intention of moving the amputed-hand will be detected from the EEG signal. Subsequently,a robotic hand will be used to provide an appropriate feedback. A portable EEG recording system will sendthe data to a laptop through Bluetooth protocol. Then, the motor imagery command will be detected basedon the filter-bank common special pattern (FBCSP) algorithm and using the OpenVibe software. and therecognized command will be send to robotic hand using Wi-Fi protocol.3. ResultsThe proposed system provides an ability to influence the amputee’s brain functional laterality using tworobotic hands placed on a table in front of the amputee. Maintaining balance between functional brainnetworks has been shown to reduce the PLP.4. ConclusionsThe ongoing project seems to be closer to the reality while engaging the subject will provide wider range ofmotion that could facilitate the rehabilitation paradigm.5. References1. Lenggenhager B, Arnold CA, Giummarra MJ, Phantom limbs: pain, embodiment, and scientifi c advancesin integrative therapies , Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci. 2014;5(2):221-31.2. Kuffler DP, Coping with Phantom Limb Pain ,Mol Neurobiol. 2018;55(1):70-84.3. Ortiz-Catalan M, Sander N, Kristoffersen MB, Hkansson B, Brnemark R, Treatment of phantom limb pain(PLP) based on augmented reality and gaming controlled by myoelectric pattern recognition: a case study ofa chronic PLP patient , Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2014, 8; 24