About this Research Topic

Background

Motor Imagery (MI) improves motor performance in subjects by strengthening motor-task-related neuronal signaling via mental “rehearsal” of defined movement sequences. Similar MI techniques have been integrated into rehabilitation strategies for patients who have suffered spinal cord injury and stroke. The conventional MI-based brain-computer interface (BCI) approach has targeted classifying tasks performed by the left and right hand or feet since the neurophysiological differences are clear between the two sides. Recent advancements have been made in MI strategy to improve MI-based BCI classification of motor tasks even from a single given limb in spite of the neurophysiological similarities. These advancements are being made possible through multiple approaches including integrating tactile stimulation with MI, improving the BCI classification algorithm, and attempting to substitute motor imagery entirely with tactile imagery. Robust classification of tasks from a single limb has the potential to expand the application of MI-based BCI to patients with acute stroke and overcome handedness-based cortical bias during MI in healthy subjects.

The aim of this Research Topic is to attract interdisciplinary research exploring new techniques and strategies to improve motor imagery performance and motor imagery-induced cortical responses in the healthy and patient population.

We encourage contributors to investigate the effect of tactile stimulation, feedback, and/or imagery on improving BCI classification with therapeutic or development of prosthesis end goals. Studies exploring the improvement of sensory and motor function using imagery are also welcome.

We encourage the contribution of Original Research, Case Studies, Reviews, and Perspectives/View
Specifically, we would like to see submissions on the following topics:

•The effect of sensory, auditory, visual, or other feedback to improve the quality of imagery induced cortical activations
•Feature extraction strategies and/or novel algorithm approaches to improve BCI classification of imagery with therapeutic or development of prosthesis end goals.
•Other modalities of imagery apart from motor imagery
•Studies exploring the improvement of sensory and motor function using imagery in both healthy and patient population
•Exploring the neurological aspects behind motor-imagery-induced effects on cortical activities
•Complex-imagery involving imagery different tasks within the same given limb or various fingers within a given hand
•Effects of virtual-reality environments on motor imagery performance are also welcome.

Keywords: motor imagery, tactile stimulation, tactile imagery, EEG, BCI, virtual reality

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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