Prediction of movement intention using connectivity within motor-related network: An electrocorticography study

Most brain-machine interface (BMI) studies have focused only on the active state of which a BMI user performs specific movement tasks. Therefore, models developed for predicting movements were optimized only for the active state. The models may not be suitable in the idle state during resting. This potential maladaptation could lead to a sudden accident or unintended movement resulting from prediction error. Prediction of movement intention is important to develop a more efficient and reasonable BMI system which could be selectively operated depending on the user’s intention. Physical movement is performed through the serial change of brain states: idle, planning, execution, and recovery. The motor networks in the primary motor cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are involved in these movement states. Neuronal communication differs between the states. Therefore, connectivity may change depending on the states. In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of connectivity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex to predict movement intention. Movement intention was successfully predicted by connectivity dynamics which may reflect changes in movement states. Furthermore, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is crucial in predicting movement intention to which primary motor cortex contributes. These results suggest that brain connectivity is an excellent approach in predicting movement intention.

绝大多数脑机接口（brain-machine interface, BMI）相关研究仅聚焦于BMI使用者执行特定运动任务的激活态。因此，专为运动预测开发的模型仅针对激活态完成优化，在静息状态下的空闲时段往往适用性不佳。这种潜在的适配缺陷可能因预测误差引发突发事故或非预期运动。预测运动意图对于构建更高效、更合理的BMI系统至关重要，此类系统可根据使用者的意图实现选择性操控。躯体运动通过脑状态的序列变化完成：静息、计划、执行与恢复。初级运动皮层（primary motor cortex）与背外侧前额叶皮层（dorsolateral prefrontal cortex）中的运动网络参与了上述各运动状态。不同状态下的神经元通信模式存在显著差异，因此脑连接模式可能随状态发生动态变化。本研究针对背外侧前额叶皮层与初级运动皮层内的脑连接时间动态特性展开探究，以实现运动意图预测。本研究借助可反映运动状态变化的脑连接动态特性，成功实现了运动意图的预测。此外，背外侧前额叶皮层在运动意图预测中发挥关键作用，初级运动皮层亦对此有所贡献。上述结果表明，脑连接分析是运动意图预测的优质研究路径。