300 Section - Clinical Application of Motor Imagery-Brain Computer Interface in Moderate to Severe Hand Function Rehabilitation and Changes in Cortical Activation After Stroke

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

LL

Lingyu Liu, MD

chief physician
Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center)，School of Medicine，Tongji University
shanghai, Shanghai, China (People's Republic)

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

DH

Dan Huang, PhD

Jonior physician
Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai Disabled Persons’ Federation Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation Assistive Devices and Technologies, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Tongji University School of Medicine
Shanghai, Shanghai, China (People's Republic)

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

JL

Jin Lingjing, PhD

Senior Physician
Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation, Shanghai Disabled Persons’ Federation Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation Assistive Devices and Technologies, Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Tongji University School of Medicine
Shanghai, Shanghai, China (People's Republic)

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

wq

wenting qin, MD

Rehabilitation physician
Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center)
shanghai, Shanghai, China (People's Republic)

Objectives : To compare effect of robotic hand rehabilitation and motor imagery-brain computer interface (MI-BCI)system on post-stroke, and explore impact of MI-BCI on motor cortex connectivity.

Design: A single-blind,RCT and fNIRS were employed. Stroke patients hospitalized at Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital between May 2023 and May 2025 were recruited.53 chronic stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups: BCI group(BG，N=25) and Control group(CG，N=28).BG underwent BCI training for 4 weeks, while CG received robotic hand training.Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT, primary outcome), FMA-UE(secondary outcome), shoulder/elbow and wrist/hand sub-scores, grip strength, NIHSS, and MBI were used. Assessments were conducted at four time points: baseline, 2 weeks, endpoint, and one month follow-up. fNIRS detected changes in oxyhemoglobin concentration in four regions of interest (ROIs)，including bilateral M1 and bilateral prefrontal cortex.

Results: Compared to CG, BG showed reduction in completion time of WMFT (F=8.118, P< 0.001) and increase in WMFT score (F=7.042, P< 0.001) after 20sessions, and this advantage persisted at one-month follow-up. After 20 sessions,FMA-UE score increased significantly in BG (F=5.412, P< 0.001) and remained higher at follow-up (F=5.819, P< 0.001). Grip strength also increased in BG(F=5.982, P< 0.001), remaining at follow-up (F=7.092, P< 0.001). After 20 sessions, NIHSS and MBI scores improved in BG and remained improved at follow-up. Specifically, there was a significant group effect for WMFT time (F=8.36, P=0.008) and grip strength (F=5.88, P=0.023). No significant adverse reactions were observed. fNIRS findings revealed in BG cortical activations increased in four ROIs after intervention. Furthermore, cortical connectivity between affected M1 and affected prefrontal cortex was positively correlated with motor function indicators.

Conclusion: Compared to CG,BG improved hand functional activities and increased grip strength in paralyzed upper limbs. Significant activation was observed in bilateral M1 and prefrontal areas after BCI intervention.MI-BCI rehabilitation system can be considered one of the effective standardized options in chronic stroke patients.