Evaluating the Impact of the Use of Cerebrospinal Stimulation, Motor Imagery, Virtual Reality and Pedaling on Beta and Mu Band Modulation in Post-stroke and Healthy Subjects
摘要
This single-blinded randomized clinical trial investigates the efficacy of post-stroke rehabilitation techniques, such as simultaneous cerebrospinal Direct Current Stimulation (csDCS) combined with Motor Imagery (MI), Virtual Reality (VR) and pedaling exercise on brain connectivity, focusing on Beta and Mu Band Modulation in the sensorimotor cortex of both a stroke patient and a healthy individual. The Alternating Treatment Design (ATD) is used, which considers three phases: baseline, sham, and real stimulation. We applied csDCS as a novel technique, targeting the affected hemisphere's M1 region (anode) and T11 thoracic vertebra of the spinal cord (cathode). For healthy subject anodal electrode was centered on the left hemisphere. The stimulation comprised two 13-min sessions with a 20- min rest in between, with 2 mA of current intensity, conducted over two sessions with a 24-h interval. EEG signals, captured from eight electrodes, were analyzed pre-and poststimulation during 2 min of pedaling exercise after receiving stimulation (sham and real) in a VR environment and use of a MI training system. Mean amplitude data and EEG topography, mapping at 0.008 s, 0.52 s, and 0.96 s, were utilized to assess Beta and Mu band alterations. Topography visualizations and statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test) revealed significant effects across the phases, confirming the efficacy of the combined techniques to promote brain connectivity reflecting neuroplastic changes.