Characterization of cortical motor function and imagery-related cortical activity: Potential application for prehabilitation

TL;DR

This study investigates the differences in electrocorticographic signals during real and imagined movements in epilepsy patients to improve motor imagery-based prehabilitation for brain surgery.

Contribution

It characterizes ECoG features associated with motor execution and imagery, highlighting differences crucial for developing effective prehabilitation interfaces.

Findings

RM and MI ECoG signals differ in location, frequency, and synchronization.

Broad frequency spectrum analysis is essential for distinguishing RM and MI activities.

Similarities between RM and MI ECoG signals inform neuroimaging comparisons.

Abstract

To minimize functional morbidity associated with brain surgery, new preventive approaches (also referred to as "prehabilitation") by using motor-imagery-based computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) can be utilized. To achieve successful MI-BCI performance for prehabilitation purposes, the characteristics of an electrocorticographic (ECoG) signal that is associated with overt motor function ("real movement" - RM) versus covert motor function ("motor imagery" - MI) need to be determined. In our current study, 5 patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (2 males, average age 25 years, SD 15), undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery participated in both RM and MI tasks. Although the RM- and MI- related ECoG changes had some common features, they also differed in a number of ways, such as location, frequency ranges, signal synchronization and desynchronization. These similarities and differences are discussed in a view of other neuroimaging studies, including magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We emphasize the need for inclusion of a broad spectrum of frequencies in ECoG analysis, when RM- and MI- related activities are concerned.