BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE IN UPPER LIMB REHABILITATION

Abstract

This article aimed to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of brain-computer interface (BCI) in the rehabilitation of upper limb motor function in post-stroke patients. This is a literature review based on a systematic search of the provided database, from which randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews published in the last 5 years were selected. The results of the main reviews show that BCI training, especially when combined with conventional rehabilitation or functional electrical stimulation (FES), promotes a moderate but significant improvement in upper limb motor function, with effect sizes ranging from SMD 0.42 to 0.73 in the short term. The evidence is more robust for patients in the subacute phase and indicates that BCI is a safe intervention. It is concluded that BCI is a promising and effective tool as an adjunct in post-stroke upper limb neurorehabilitation, although protocol optimization and the identification of response biomarkers are still needed to maximize its benefits.