BCIs and physical medicine and rehabilitation: The future is now

A comprehensive assessment of Brain Computer Interfaces: Recent trends and challenges

BACKGROUND

An uninterrupted channel of communication and control between the human brain and electronic processing units has led to an increased use of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs). This article attempts to present an all-encompassing review on BCI and the scientific advancements associated with it. The ultimate goal of this review is to provide a general overview of the BCI technology and to shed light on different aspects of BCIs. This review also underscores the applications, practical challenges and opportunities associated with BCI technology, which can be used to accelerate future developments in this field.

METHODS

This review is based on a systematic literature search for tracking down the relevant research annals and proceedings. Using a methodical search strategy, the search was carried out across major technical databases. The retrieved records were screened for their relevance and a total of 369 research chronicles were engulfed in this review based on the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

This review describes the present scenario and recent advancements in BCI technology. It also identifies several application areas of BCI technology. This comprehensive review provides evidence that, while we are getting ever closer, significant challenges still exist for the development of BCIs that can seamlessly integrate with the user's biological system.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this review confirm the importance of BCI technology in various applications. It is concluded that BCI technology, still in its sprouting phase, requires significant explorations for further development.

Implantable neurotechnologies: electrical stimulation and applications

Neural stimulation using injected electrical charge is widely used both in functional therapies and as an experimental tool for neuroscience applications. Electrical pulses can induce excitation of targeted neural pathways that aid in the treatment of neural disorders or dysfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system. In this review, we summarize the recent trends in the field of electrical stimulation for therapeutic interventions of nervous system disorders, such as for the restoration of brain, eye, ear, spinal cord, nerve and muscle function. Neural prosthetic applications are discussed, and functional electrical stimulation parameters for treating such disorders are reviewed. Important considerations for implantable packaging and enhancing device reliability are also discussed. Neural stimulators are expected to play a profound role in implantable neural devices that treat disorders and help restore functions in injured or disabled nervous system.

Motor imagery based brain-computer interfaces: An emerging technology to rehabilitate motor deficits

When the sensory-motor integration system is malfunctioning provokes a wide variety of neurological disorders, which in many cases cannot be treated with conventional medication, or via existing therapeutic technology. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a tool that permits to reintegrate the sensory-motor loop, accessing directly to brain information. A potential, promising and quite investigated application of BCI has been in the motor rehabilitation field. It is well-known that motor deficits are the major disability wherewith the worldwide population lives. Therefore, this paper aims to specify the foundation of motor rehabilitation BCIs, as well as to review the recent research conducted so far (specifically, from 2007 to date), in order to evaluate the suitability and reliability of this technology. Although BCI for post-stroke rehabilitation is still in its infancy, the tendency is towards the development of implantable devices that encompass a BCI module plus a stimulation system.