Brain-Computer Interface Control of Ambulation

问题陈述：由于脊髓损伤（SCI）而截瘫的个体无法行走。下肢功能性电刺激（FES）是部分恢复活动能力的技术之一。目前的FES技术需要用户手动操作，不直观，并且垄断了上肢，干扰了上肢的运动功能。另一方面，脑机接口（BCI）是一种能够在不产生任何运动输出的情况下，通过皮质直接控制外部设备的技术。研究计划：本研究的主要目标是将基于脑电图（EEG）的脑机接口（BCI）技术与无创下肢FES技术相结合，以恢复脊髓损伤完全性截瘫患者的直观、免提行走能力。脊髓损伤受试者将接受训练，以利用与步态相关的动觉运动图像（即运动想象）来操作脑机接口控制的虚拟现实步态模拟器。受试者还将接受商用FES系统的行走训练。随后，收集受试者使用FES系统行走时的脑电图数据，确定脑机接口与FES系统整合的关键参数。最后，将这两个系统进行整合，并在这些受试者执行目标导向的步行任务时测试整合后的BCI-FES系统的有效性。新颖性：1)基于脑电图的脑机接口与肢体假肢的集成研究有限，并且尚未在下肢FES系统中实现步行。2)该研究需要一种新的神经生理学实验范式，包括新的信号处理和主动电极记录方法，以实现无伪影的动态EEG数据采集。这些数据将为脊髓损伤中想象和行走的神经生理过程提供新的信息。4) BCI-FES系统的成功整合将使该人群的神经康复重点从利用备用运动通路转向功能恢复。5)这一概念可以扩展到未来更大的目标领域的研究，包括中风、多发性硬化症和不完全性脊髓损伤，作为一种新的工具来促进可塑性和神经修复以及随后的功能增益。智力优势：提出的实验、工程和科学技术将为未来脑机接口-假体整合研究提供蓝图。提出的研究将导致部署和发展新的信号处理和控制算法的bci -假体集成。除了脑机接口的应用外，本研究收集的数据分析将描绘出参与控制实际步态和想象步态的一般皮质区域，这将从根本上推进我们对皮层控制行走及其因脊髓损伤而发生的变化的认识。BCI- fes集成系统的独特功能及其长期使用将有助于解决诸如“BCI运动皮层”的出现等科学问题，并可能在未来促进利用神经修复和可塑性的新疗法的发展，例如细胞疗法。最后，该项目的成功可能会激发完善FES技术的研究，并可能激发脑机接口与其他形式的功能性电刺激（如脊髓刺激）在目标人群康复中的整合。更广泛的影响：拟议的活动将加强工程和医科学生的教育、科学素养和终身学习。具体地说，这项研究的要素将被纳入教学和指导课程。本科生和研究生都将参与拟议的研究和教育计划，他们的研究成果将广泛传播，包括向残疾人社区推广。这些活动将有助于培养学生的领导能力和跨学科研究技能。他们还将扩大在工程和科学领域代表性不足的群体的参与。调查人员将通过开展演讲、演示和展览等教育活动，促进少数族裔K-12和社区大学学生的大学教育和对工程/科学职业的追求。最后，调查人员将参与高需求学区K-12数学和科学教师的专业发展，以提高他们的保留率和领导技能。

PI: NenadicProposal Number: 1160200Problem Statement: Individuals with paraplegia due to spinal cord injury (SCI) are unable to ambulate. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the lower extremities is one of the technologies with which ambulation can be partially restored. Current FES technology requires manual operation by the user, which is unintuitive, and monopolizes the upper extremities and interferes with their motor function. Brain-computer interface (BCI), on the other hand, is a technology that enables a direct cortical control of external devices, without generating any motor output. Research Plan: The main goal of this study is to integrate the technology of electro-encephalogram (EEG) based BCI with noninvasive FES of the lower extremities to restore intuitive, hands-free ambulation in individuals with complete paraplegia due to SCI. SCI subjects will be trained to utilize gait-related kinesthetic motor imagery (i.e. imagination of movement) to operate a BCI-controlled virtual reality gait simulator. The subjects will also be trained to ambulate with a commercial FES system. Subsequently, subjects' EEG data will be collected while they are engaged in ambulation with the FES system and the parameters critical for integration of BCI and FES systems will be determined. Finally, the two systems will be integrated, and the effectiveness of the integrated BCI-FES system will be tested in these subjects while they perform a goal-oriented ambulation task. Novelty: 1) The integration of an EEG-based BCI with limb prostheses has undergone limited research, and has not been achieved with lower extremity FES systems for walking. 2) The study requires a novel neurophysiological experimental paradigm, including novel signal processing and active-electrode recording methods, to enable acquisition of artifact-free, ambulatory EEG data. 3) These data will provide novel information about the neurophysiological processes underlying imagination and execution of ambulation in SCI. 4) A successfully integrated BCI-FES system will shift the focus of neuro-rehabilitation of this population from utilizing spared motor pathways to functional restoration. 5) This concept can be extended to future studies with much larger target domain, including subjects with stroke, multiple sclerosis, and incomplete SCI, as a novel tool to promote plasticity and neural repair and subsequent functional gains.Intellectual Merit: The proposed experimental, engineering and scientific techniques will provide a blueprint for future BCI-prosthesis integration studies. The proposed study will lead to the deployment and development of novel signal processing and control algorithms for BCI-prosthesis integration. Aside from BCI applications, the analysis of data collected in this study will delineate the general cortical areas involved in control of both executed and imagined gait, which will fundamentally advance our knowledge of cortical control of ambulation and the changes it undergoes due to SCI. The unique features of the integrated BCI-FES system and its long-term use will be instrumental to addressing scientific questions such as the emergence of the "BCI motor cortex," and may in the future facilitate development of novel treatments that utilize neural repair and plasticity, such as cellular therapies. Finally, the success of the proposed project may invigorate studies to refine FES technology and may inspire integration of BCIs with other forms of functional electrostimulation, such as spinal cord stimulation in rehabilitation of the target population.Broader Impacts: The proposed activities will enhance the education, scientific literacy, and lifelong learning in engineering and medical students. Specifically, elements of this study will be integrated into the teaching and mentoring curricula. Both undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the proposed research and educational plans and their findings will be broadly disseminated, including outreach to the disabled community. These activities will help develop students' leadership and interdisciplinary research skills. They will also broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in engineering and science. The investigators will promote college education and the pursuit of engineering/science careers in minority K-12 and community-college students by developing educational activities such as presentations, demonstrations and exhibits. Finally, the investigators will partake in the professional development of K-12 math and science teachers in high-need school districts in order to improve their retention rates and leadership skills.