Characterization of cortical motor function and imagery-related cortical activity: Potential application for prehabilitation

To minimize functional morbidity associated with brain surgery, new preventive approaches (also referred to as "prehabilitation") by using motor-imagery-based computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) can be utilized. To achieve successful MI-BCI performance for prehabilitation purposes, the characteristics of an electrocorticographic (ECoG) signal that is associated with overt motor function ("real movement" — RM) versus covert motor function ("motor imagery" — MI) need to be determined. In our current study, 5 patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy (2 males, average age 25 years, SD 15), undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery participated in both RM and MI tasks. Although the RM- and MI-related ECoG changes had some common features, they also differed in a number of ways, such as location, frequency ranges, signal synchronization and desynchronization. These similarities and differences are discussed in a view of other neuroimaging studies, including magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We emphasize the need for inclusion of a broad spectrum of frequencies in ECoG analysis, when RM- and MI-related activities are concerned.