Brain-Computer Interface Augmented With Virtual Walking Avatar Can Control Gait

Introduction

Researchers from the University of Houston have shown for the first time that the use of a brain-computer interface augmented with a virtual walking avatar can control gait, suggesting the protocol may help patients recover the ability to walk after stroke, some spinal cord injuries and certain other gait disabilities.

Main Digest

Researchers said the work, done at the University's Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interface System Laboratory, is the first to demonstrate that a brain-computer interface can promote and enhance cortical involvement during walking. The study, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, was published in Scientific Reports.

Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Cullen professor of electrical and computer engineering at UH and senior author of the paper, said the data will be made available to other researchers. While similar work has been done in other primates, this is the first to involve humans, he said. Contreras-Vidal is also site director of the BRAIN Center (Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology), a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.

Contreras-Vidal and researchers with his lab use non-invasive brain monitoring to determine what parts of the brain are involved in an activity, using that information to create an algorithm, or a brain-machine interface, which can translate the subject's intentions into action.

In addition to Contreras-Vidal, researchers on the project are first author Trieu Phat Luu, a research fellow in neural engineering at UH; Sho Nakagome and Yongtian He, graduate students in the UH Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"Voluntary control of movements is crucial for motor learning and physical rehabilitation," they wrote. "Our results suggest the possible benefits of using a closed-loop EEG-based BCI-VR (brain-computer interface-virtual reality) system in inducing voluntary control of human gait."

Researchers already knew electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of brain activity can distinguish whether a subject is standing still or walking. But they hadn't previously known if a brain-computer interface was practical for helping to promote the ability to walk, or what parts of the brain are relevant to determining gait.

In this case, they collected data from eight healthy subjects, all of whom participated in three trials involving walking on a treadmill while watching an avatar displayed on a monitor. The volunteers were fitted with a 64-channel headset and motion sensors at the hip, knee and ankle joint.

The avatar first was activated by the motion sensors, allowing its movement to precisely mimic that of the test subject. In later tests, the avatar was controlled by the brain-computer interface, meaning the subject controlled the avatar with his or her brain.

The avatar perfectly mimicked the subject's movements when relying upon the sensors, but the match was less precise when the brain-computer interface was used.

Contreras-Vidal said that's to be expected, noting that other studies have shown some initial decoding errors as the subject learns to use the interface.

"It's like learning to use a new tool or sport," he said. "You have to understand how the tool works. The brain needs time to learn that."

The researchers reported increased activity in the posterior parietal cortex and the inferior parietal lobe, along with increased involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in motor learning and error monitoring.

The next step is to use the protocol with patients, the subject of He's Ph.D. dissertation.

"The appeal of brain-machine interface is that it places the user at the center of the therapy," Contreras-Vidal said. "They have to be engaged, because they are in control."

Similar Content Viewed by Others

• Persons Gait Helps Diagnose Fibromyalgia: New reliable method based on patients gait helps to diagnose fibromyalgia.
• Robotic Device Improves Balance and Gait in Parkinson's Disease Patients: Columbia engineers find that a single session of perturbation-based training, using their Tethered Pelvic Assist Device, increased stability of patients during walking while exposed to unexpected perturbations.
• Protein Levels in Spinal Fluid Correlate to Posture and Gait Difficulty in Parkinson's Disease: Study finds levels of a protein found in the brain called alpha-synuclein are significantly lower than normal in cerebrospinal fluid in Parkinson's disease patients with postural instability and gait difficulty.
• Electronic BCG Sock Detects Unhealthy Gait: An electronic sock that detects an unhealthy walking style linked with diabetes and poor circulation shows promise for preventing foot ulcers and amputation.

Attribution/Source(s):

This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its significant relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Houston, and published on 2017/08/23 (Edit Update: 2024/04/08), the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Houston can be contacted at uh.edu. NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

Related Publications▶ Share This Page

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): University of Houston. (2017, August 23 - Last revised: 2024, April 8). Brain-Computer Interface Augmented With Virtual Walking Avatar Can Control Gait. Disabled World. Retrieved September 11, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/computer/avatar-gait.php

Permalink: <a href="https://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/computer/avatar-gait.php">Brain-Computer Interface Augmented With Virtual Walking Avatar Can Control Gait</a>: A brain-computer interface augmented with virtual walking avatar can control gait and may help patients recover ability to walk after stroke, SCI and other gait disabilities.

Disabled World provides general information only. Materials presented are never meant to substitute for qualified medical care. Any 3rd party offering or advertising does not constitute an endorsement.