Brain Computer Interface for the Hand Function Restoration

Abstract

The neural pathways of patients with hand dysfunction are impaired between the brain and the hand or prosthetic. The brain-computer interface (BCI) as a novel technology can bypass the impaired bidirectional neural pathways, which can help to restore hand function. In this review, we focus on BCI used for restoring the hand function. Non-invasive methods like EEG perform well in extracting motor intention and somatic sensation. But EEG experiments need a lot of time to set up. The invasive BCI (iBCI) is characterized by fast construction time, high temporal and spatial resolution, and high classification accuracy. But iBCI requires an electrode array (EA) to be implanted in the patient s brain. The surgical procedure may cause secondary harm to the patients, and postoperative risks such as infection and displacement exist. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) based on BCI also plays an important role in hand function restoration. In this review, we will focus on BCI used for restoring the hand function.