Multimodal EEG and NIRS-based BCI With Assistive Soft Robotics for Stroke (MBCI-SR)

Participants will be asked to wear and EEG+NIRS cap and a soft robotic glove on their stroke-impaired hand. The participant will be instructed to ask to imagine to picture moving the stroke-imparied hand in the mind. The brain signal (EEG and NIRS data) will be recorded as a reference. When the participant pictures this move again, upon detection of such imagined move by MBCI-SR system, the glove will be activated and assists the participants to perform a specific upper limb task based on individual ability. There are six different activities of daily living (ADL)-oriented tasks enacted through a virtual arm and virtual objects, which formed the visual feedback for the participants. These tasks include scanning goods, moving an object upward to a cabinet, using two hands to move a towel, pouring of water into a cup, eating action and fine motor movement of picking up a small block using two fingers. Training intensity is 1.5 hours for 3 times a week for 6 weeks, a total of 18 sessions.