Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization

Background: Self-controlled motor imagery combined with assistive devices is promising for enhancing neurorehabilitation. This study developed a soft, Flexible Exoskeleton (flexEXO) for finger movements and investigated whether self-controlled motor tasks facilitate stronger cortical activation than...

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Main Authors: Takayuki Kodama, Masahiro Yoshikawa, Kosuke Minamii, Kazuhei Nishimoto, Sayuna Kadowaki, Yuuki Inoue, Hiroki Ito, Hayato Shigeto, Kohei Okuyama, Kouta Maeda, Osamu Katayama, Shin Murata, Kiichiro Morita
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3527
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author Takayuki Kodama
Masahiro Yoshikawa
Kosuke Minamii
Kazuhei Nishimoto
Sayuna Kadowaki
Yuuki Inoue
Hiroki Ito
Hayato Shigeto
Kohei Okuyama
Kouta Maeda
Osamu Katayama
Shin Murata
Kiichiro Morita
author_facet Takayuki Kodama
Masahiro Yoshikawa
Kosuke Minamii
Kazuhei Nishimoto
Sayuna Kadowaki
Yuuki Inoue
Hiroki Ito
Hayato Shigeto
Kohei Okuyama
Kouta Maeda
Osamu Katayama
Shin Murata
Kiichiro Morita
author_sort Takayuki Kodama
collection DOAJ
description Background: Self-controlled motor imagery combined with assistive devices is promising for enhancing neurorehabilitation. This study developed a soft, Flexible Exoskeleton (flexEXO) for finger movements and investigated whether self-controlled motor tasks facilitate stronger cortical activation than externally controlled conditions. Methods: Twenty-one healthy participants performed grasping tasks under four conditions: Self-Controlled Motion (SCC), Other-Controlled Motion (OCC), Self-Controlled Imagery Only (SCIOC), and Other-Controlled Imagery Only (OCIOC). EEG data were recorded, focusing on event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the μ and β bands during imagery and motion and event-related synchronization (ERS) in the β band during feedback. Source localization was performed using eLORETA. Results: Higher μERD and βERD were observed during self-controlled tasks, particularly in the primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area. Externally controlled tasks showed enhanced activation in the inferior parietal lobule and secondary somatosensory cortex. βERS did not differ significantly across conditions. Source localization revealed that self-controlled tasks engaged motor planning and error-monitoring regions more robustly. Conclusions: The flexEXO device and the comparison of brain activity under different conditions provide insights into the neural mechanisms of motor control and have implications for neurorehabilitation.
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spelling doaj-art-02a136733d2d49018ade9859f02a9f912025-08-20T02:33:02ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012511352710.3390/s25113527Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source LocalizationTakayuki Kodama0Masahiro Yoshikawa1Kosuke Minamii2Kazuhei Nishimoto3Sayuna Kadowaki4Yuuki Inoue5Hiroki Ito6Hayato Shigeto7Kohei Okuyama8Kouta Maeda9Osamu Katayama10Shin Murata11Kiichiro Morita12Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanGraduate School of Robotics and Design, Osaka Institute of Technology, 1-45 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka-City 530-8568, Osaka, JapanGraduate School of Robotics and Design, Osaka Institute of Technology, 1-45 Chayamachi, Kita-ku, Osaka-City 530-8568, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanNational Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, 7-430 Morioka-cho, Obu-City 474-8511, Aichi, JapanDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, 34 Oyake yamada, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanCognitive and Molecular Research Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Kurume-City 830-0011, Fukuoka, JapanBackground: Self-controlled motor imagery combined with assistive devices is promising for enhancing neurorehabilitation. This study developed a soft, Flexible Exoskeleton (flexEXO) for finger movements and investigated whether self-controlled motor tasks facilitate stronger cortical activation than externally controlled conditions. Methods: Twenty-one healthy participants performed grasping tasks under four conditions: Self-Controlled Motion (SCC), Other-Controlled Motion (OCC), Self-Controlled Imagery Only (SCIOC), and Other-Controlled Imagery Only (OCIOC). EEG data were recorded, focusing on event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the μ and β bands during imagery and motion and event-related synchronization (ERS) in the β band during feedback. Source localization was performed using eLORETA. Results: Higher μERD and βERD were observed during self-controlled tasks, particularly in the primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area. Externally controlled tasks showed enhanced activation in the inferior parietal lobule and secondary somatosensory cortex. βERS did not differ significantly across conditions. Source localization revealed that self-controlled tasks engaged motor planning and error-monitoring regions more robustly. Conclusions: The flexEXO device and the comparison of brain activity under different conditions provide insights into the neural mechanisms of motor control and have implications for neurorehabilitation.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3527self-controlled motor tasksexternally controlled tasksmotor imageryEEGERD/ERSeLORETA
spellingShingle Takayuki Kodama
Masahiro Yoshikawa
Kosuke Minamii
Kazuhei Nishimoto
Sayuna Kadowaki
Yuuki Inoue
Hiroki Ito
Hayato Shigeto
Kohei Okuyama
Kouta Maeda
Osamu Katayama
Shin Murata
Kiichiro Morita
Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
Sensors
self-controlled motor tasks
externally controlled tasks
motor imagery
EEG
ERD/ERS
eLORETA
title Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
title_full Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
title_fullStr Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
title_short Investigating the Neural Mechanisms of Self-Controlled and Externally Controlled Movement with a Flexible Exoskeleton Using EEG Source Localization
title_sort investigating the neural mechanisms of self controlled and externally controlled movement with a flexible exoskeleton using eeg source localization
topic self-controlled motor tasks
externally controlled tasks
motor imagery
EEG
ERD/ERS
eLORETA
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/11/3527
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