Visual input plays a crucial role in the control of upright posture by providing continuous feedback about body orientation and movement. In individuals with blindness, the absence of visual information can lead to adaptations in motor strategies and altered coordination between muscles involved in balance control. In this study, we investigated whether visual cortical stimulation could enhance reorganization in the functional muscle network in a blind neuroprosthesis user. Electromyographic signals (EMG) were recorded during a quiet standing task in a blind subject, both with and without cortical stimulation, and compared to a control group of sighted individuals (N = 8). Intermuscular coherence (IMC) was analyzed across frequency bands to quantify functional interactions between muscles. The global structure of these interactions was evaluated through the Global Efficiency (GE) metric. Preliminary results suggest that phosphene induction through visual cortical stimulation leads to a reorganization of muscle networks during standing posture in the blind subject. However, future studies are needed to confirm tendencies related to the efficiency of the changes observed.

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Effects of Visual Cortical Stimulation on Functional Muscle Network Efficiency in a Blind Subject: a Pilot Study

  • Ana Lía Albarracín,
  • Leonardo Ariel Cano,
  • Eduardo Oliveira Freire,
  • Francisco Escobar,
  • Eduardo Fernandez,
  • Fernando Daniel Farfán

摘要

Visual input plays a crucial role in the control of upright posture by providing continuous feedback about body orientation and movement. In individuals with blindness, the absence of visual information can lead to adaptations in motor strategies and altered coordination between muscles involved in balance control. In this study, we investigated whether visual cortical stimulation could enhance reorganization in the functional muscle network in a blind neuroprosthesis user. Electromyographic signals (EMG) were recorded during a quiet standing task in a blind subject, both with and without cortical stimulation, and compared to a control group of sighted individuals (N = 8). Intermuscular coherence (IMC) was analyzed across frequency bands to quantify functional interactions between muscles. The global structure of these interactions was evaluated through the Global Efficiency (GE) metric. Preliminary results suggest that phosphene induction through visual cortical stimulation leads to a reorganization of muscle networks during standing posture in the blind subject. However, future studies are needed to confirm tendencies related to the efficiency of the changes observed.