Improving Neuroprosthetics through Novel Techniques for processing Electrophysiological Human Brain Signals

About this Research Topic

Background

Neurological diseases causing motor and/or cognitive impairments are among the most common causes of disabilities in adults. Recent advancements in neurorehabilitation and neuroprosthetics have led to a growing use of:
(i) brain-computer interfaces and neuromodulatory interventions in clinical settings to treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson, stroke, epilepsy, schizophrenia; or (ii) to substitute missing limbs. However, additional investigations are needed, aimed at: (i) maximizing therapy efficacy; (ii) decoding the information flow from the central nervous system to the periphery; (iii) understanding the neural mechanisms underlying plasticity which manifests after prolonged rehabilitation treatment or prosthetic use; and (iv) provide a roadmap for standardized analysis of electrophysiological brain signals. Addressing these issues will provide patients with innovative pathways for rehabilitation leading to a true recovery of functions.

Innovative approaches are thus necessary for translating current research results into useful clinical applications providing novel therapeutic possibilities in the neurorehabilitation and neuroprosthetic field. The development of these novel solutions could help people with disabilities to overcome their daily obstacles and achieve a better quality of life.

This Research Topic is widely open to contributions that target:
• novel experimental designs, clinical protocols, and applications involving brain signals in the context of neurorehabilitation;
• techniques for off-line signal processing, e.g. investigation of brain activity (EEG, EcoG, stereo-EEG, MEG), characterization of brain oscillations, decoding of information in the brain (e.g. sensory and/or motor);
• techniques for on-line signal processing, e.g. novel hardware design for treating human brain signals;
• assessment of plastic changes following a neurorehabilitation treatment or upon usage of a prosthetic device, e.g. novel biomarkers based on electrophysiological recordings, computational models for understanding reconfiguration mechanisms;
• standardized methods to store and process data, in agreement with the FAIR principles.

We accept submissions of manuscripts as Original Research, Systematic Review, Review (and mini-Review), Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report, Brief Research Report.

Keywords: BCI, decoding, human electrophysiology, oscillations, signal processing

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