- An Adaptive Neurorehabilitation Robotics
Electroencephalography (EEG) Game
- Project Year:
2018
- REU Student (s):
Nicholas Georgiou | University of Virginia-Main Campus VA
- Student 1 Institution:
University of Virginia-Main Campus
- Project Mentor:
Konstantinos Michmizos
- Project Mentor Area:
Computer Science
- Project Abstract:
Through a combination of neuroscience, robotics, and computer science,
neurorehabilitation robots (NRs) can help patients with neurological conditions recover through
therapy. Many times, patients may have impaired ability in moving body parts such as their arms.
The Bionik InMotion ARM is used as the NR platform for this project. The NRs give optimal
results when patients have cognitive engagement (CE) while they perform highly repetitive tasks
involving the affected body part. An efficient and effective approach to NR therapy while
maintaining CE is performing these highly repetitive tasks in the form of serious games. The NR
adapts to the patients' behavior or ability in order to maintain active participation from the patient
and to encourage improvement. A key to improving the effectiveness of NR therapy is
understanding the neurophysiological components to movement of specific body parts that can
help brain plasticity and lead to better motor recovery, so another aspect of this project was
developing a built-in measure of these components into the robotic system. This is done through
the 128-channel Biosemi Active electroencephalography (EEG) system, along with motor
behavior metrics of gameplay performance. So, the focuses on developing comprehensive
representations of CE when performing neurorehabilitation tasks during therapy and creating new
adaptive rehabilitation strategies that can further help patients in their recoveries.
