Recent research suggests that neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in functional recovery after neurological injury. Sensory input in the form of sustaind peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) can up-modulate neuroplastic change and thereby accelerate recovery of motor function. Furthermore, our preliminary data demonstrate that motor function can be substantially enhanced when PNS is delivered prior to motor training. During PNS, subjects remain awake but not actively engaged in any task. The objective of this project is to test whether PNS in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury can accelerate recovery of motor function when PNS is delivered in closed-loop: i.e., only in response to subject's volition. This brief PNS delivery will be triggered by a brain-machine interface (BMI) that detects intent-to-move from suppression of the electroencephalogram (EEG) sensorimotor (mu) rhythm, which can occur with actual or imagined movement effort. Evidence of a beneficial effect from synchronizing PNS with intent-to-move could help optimize timing- dependent neuroplasticity, which is critical for motor learning. This proposal has the following specific aims: 1. Develop a BMI for accurately detecting intent-to-move with minimal latency from continuous EEG measurements, and briefly triggering closed-loop PNS in response to intent-to-move; and 2. Test the hypothesis that closed-loop PNS can promote motor neuroplasticity better than open-loop (pre-programmed) PNS or sham PNS, as reflected by progressive increase in motor-evoked potential amplitude and motor performance. No study to date has investigated closed-loop PNS in individuals with neurological injuries. Refinement of PNS techniques and protocols that incorporate BMIs will contribute enormously to science and clinical care and therefore have high translational potential for neurorehabilitation.

Public Health Relevance

The goal is to develop a brain-machine interface that will detect when a patient with incomplete spinal cord injury attempts hand movement and apply peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) to send a reward signal to the brain. This is expected to speed up rehabilitation compared to PNS without any effort from the patient.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21HD079747-02
Application #
9107488
Study Section
Motor Function, Speech and Rehabilitation Study Section (MFSR)
Program Officer
Marden, Susan F
Project Start
2015-07-08
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2016-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Schildt, Christopher J; Thomas, Sarah H; Powell, Elizabeth S et al. (2016) Closed-loop afferent electrical stimulation for recovery of hand function in individuals with motor incomplete spinal injury: early clinical results. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2016:1552-1555