Characterizing Cortical Responses Evoked by Robotic Joint Manipulation after Stroke

Abstract

Cortical damage after a stroke often affects movement control, resulting in impairments such as paresis and synergies. Although some recover, most stroke survivors are left with reduced function of the upper limb, which has a severe impact on their activities of daily living. People who have suffered a stroke demonstrate heterogeneous impairments due to large variability in lesion location and extent; thus, rehabilitation should be tailored to each individual. Design and evaluation of rehabilitation programs requires a thorough understanding of the healthy and impaired sensorimotor system. Impairments to the motor system have been extensively investigated. On the contrary, the sensory aspects of impaired motor control have received less attention. This thesis intends to characterize the relation between somatosensory information from the periphery and the corresponding cortical responses using electroencephalography (EEG).