Soft Robotic Glove with Alpha Band Brain Computer Interface for Post-Stroke Hand Function Rehabilitation

Abstract

Loss of hand dexterity is a major challenge faced by post-stroke patients who strive to resume their ordinary daily lives. Effective hand function rehabilitation treatment for such population is therefore necessary. A soft robotic glove system operated through SSVEP-based BCI has been reported to be an effective tool for post-stroke hand motor function recovery. This study further evaluated the application of visual stimulation in the alpha band for SSVEP-assisted rehabilitation. We compared the treatment outcome with stimulations within the alpha band to that outside the band. A total of 20 post-stroke patients with severe upper limb dysfunction were randomly assigned to alpha band group and non-alpha band group. The experiment result was assessed with Fugl-Meyer upper limb Motor Assessment (FMAUE) and alpha EEG oscillation analysis. The alpha band group showed slightly but notably higher FMA-UE scores $(\mathrm{P}\lt 0.05)$, and significantly increased alpha wave EEG oscillations $(\mathrm{P}\lt 0.05)$. The result demonstrated the usefulness of alpha band SSVEP for post stroke hand function rehabilitation.