Combining tDCS and BCI to Promote the Recovery of Exercise Capacity in Stroke Patients

Abstract

This study mainly investigated the effectiveness of the combination of tDCS and BCI on the recovery of motor function in stroke patients. In this experiment, 45 patients were divided into three groups, and they were treated with BCI, tDCS, and BCI and tDCS. The Fugl-Meyer Upper Limb Function Rating Scale (FMA-UE), the Upper Limb Action Study Scale (ARAT), and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) were rated before and after treatment. The average power values of each electrode in the frequency bands of δ, θ, α and β were calculated and derived from the EEG signals collected before and after treatment, and the recovery degree of patients was evaluated according to the average scalp δ-α ratio (DAR) and power ratio index (PRI). After the study, the scores of FMA-UE, ARAT, and MBI in the three groups increased significantly after treatment compared with those before treatment, and the BCI and tDCS combined treatment group had the largest increase. The scores of DAR and PRI were significantly reduced, with the largest reduction in the BCI and TDCS combination treatment group. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of tDCS and BCI showed superior effectiveness in promoting motor function recovery in stroke patients, as evidenced by the greater improvements in FMA-UE, ARAT, and MBI scores, as well as more significant reductions in DAR and PRI values compared to single-modality treatments.