Page 81 - GTM-3-1

Global Translational Medicine

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Ineffective voluntary motor improvement

through non-invasive BCI-FES with static
magnetic field in complete spinal cord injury: A

pilot study

2
1,3
Larissa Gomes Sartori *, Roger Burgo de Souza , Daniel Prado Campos ,
1
5
Paulo Broniera Júnior , José J. A. Mendes Junior , and Eddy Krueger 1
1,4
1 Neural Engineering and Rehabilitation Laboratory, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
2 Department of Physiotherapy, State University of Londrina, Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
3 Department of Computer Engineering, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Apucarana, Brazil
4 Electronic Systems Laboratory - Embedded and Power, IoT and Manufacturing 4.0, Instituto Senai
de Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação (ISTIC), Londrina, Brazil
5 Department of Computer and Electronic Engineering, Federal Technological University of Paraná,
Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

In response to the challenge of spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation, this study
aimed to investigate the effect of applying a non-invasive interface of surface
neuroelectrical signals and functional electrical stimulation (sNES-sFES) with a
static magnetic field on the motor outcome of the quadriceps femoris muscle in
*Corresponding author: an individual with a complete SCI. The participant, who had a complete SCI in the
Larissa Gomes Sartori chronic stage, was evaluated before (pre) and after nine (post) interventions using
(llarissa.sartori@uel.br) surface electromyography (sEMG). In addition, spasticity (modified Ashworth scale
Citation: Sartori LG, de [MAS]) was observed in all sessions. Moreover, the user learning curve process
Souza RB, Campos DP, Júnior PB, (classifier percentage and correct success of the sFES hits) was evaluated. In general,
Junior JJAM, Krueger E. Ineffective
voluntary motor improvement we observed: (i) No voluntary muscle contraction (pre- and post-root mean square of
through non-invasive BCI-FES with sEMG = 0%) improvement; (ii) spasticity decrease (average one point in MAS); (iii) gradual
static magnetic field in complete improvement in the user learning effect on the interface, reaching 84% in classifier
spinal cord injury: A pilot study.
Global Transl Med. 2024;3(1):2285. accuracy and a maximum percentage of correct sFES activation of 53%. In conclusion,
https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.2285 no improvement in voluntary muscular contraction was observed within 9 weeks of
the intervention (1 session/day; 1 h/week). However, our study demonstrates the safety
Received: November 21, 2023
Accepted: February 27, 2024 and feasibility of our methodology for future research involving continuous physical
Published Online: March 22, 2024 rehabilitation training and the implementation of assistive technology.
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the Keywords: Brain-machine interface; Motor imagery; Neuroscience; Paraplegic; Rehabilitation
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological condition that partially or completely impairs
Publishing remains neutral with sensorimotor and autonomic function below the lesion segment. SCI recovery remains
1
regard to jurisdictional claims in 2
published maps and institutional an unsolved challenge in biomedical engineering and related fields. Non-invasive
3
affiliations. techniques such as brain-machine interfaces (BCI) function as technological bridges,
Volume 3 Issue 1 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.2285