Improving of brain-machine interaction performance by sensory and transcranial magnetic stimulation

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and vibrotactile stimulation to enhance the performance of motor imagery-based brain-machine interfaces (MI-BMIs). Our findings demonstrate that TMS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with specific parameters (5 Hz frequency, 6-minute duration, 90% of the resting motor threshold) induces preactivation of the occipital region, facilitating sensorimotor integration and reducing MI-BMI latency. Additionally, integrating vibrotactile feedback during MI-BMI training enhances event-related desynchronization (ERD) over the contralateral motor cortex for non-dominant hand imagery and increases motor cortical excitability, as evidenced by elevated motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). These results highlight the complementary roles of central (TMS) and peripheral (vibrotactile) stimulation in optimizing MI-BMI systems, offering promising avenues for neurorehabilitation and improving user proficiency in BMI control