Abstract
There is increasing evidence to support the concept that adult brain has the remarkable ability to plastically reorganize itself. Brain plasticity involves distinct functional and structural components and plays a crucial role in reorganizing central nervous system's networks after any lesion in order to partly or totally restore lost and/or compromised functions. The idea that a computer can decode brain electromagnetic signals to infer the intentions of a human and then enact those intentions directly through a machine is becoming a reasonable technical possibility. In neurological patients unable to move and to communicate with the external environment, technologies implementing brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) can be of valuable aid and support. The emerging possibility, through neuro-imaging advanced techniques, to clarify some crucial issues underlying brain plasticity will give the possibility to modulate these mechanisms in a BCIoriented way. This approach may have a tremendous impact in a variety of neuropsychiatrie disorders and the clinical advent of this technology will usher in a new era of restorative medicine.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 307-312 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2012 |
Keywords
- Brain diseases
- Electroencephalography
- Magnetoencephalography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation