Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Claudio Babiloni

Publications and source records attributed to Claudio Babiloni.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The use of EEG modifications due to motor imagery for brain-computer interfaces.

The opening of a communication channel between brain and computer [brain-computer interface (BCI)] is possible by using changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectra related to the imagination of movements. In this paper, we present results obtained by recording EEG during an upper limb motor imagery task in a total of 18 subjects by using low-resolution surface Laplacian, different linear and quadratic classifiers, as well as a variable number of scalp electrodes, from 2 to 26. The results (variable correct classification rate of mental imagery between 75% and 95%) suggest that it is possible to recognize quite reliably ongoing mental movement imagery for BCI applications.

Algorithms↗

Comparison between SI and SII responses as a function of stimulus intensity.

In this MEG study we investigated the differences in responses to somatosensory electrical stimuli between primary (SI) and secondary (SII) sensory cortices using 10 different levels of stimulus intensity, starting from below the sensory threshold up to a weak painful level. SI dipole source linearly increased in amplitude as the stimulus intensity raised up to a strong motor level and then saturated at higher stimulation levels. The contralateral and ipsilateral SII dipole source strengths followed the stimulus intensity growing up to the motor threshold, but showed a decrease at the strong motor level, followed by an increase as the stimulus intensity raised towards the weak painful threshold. These results suggest different responses of SI and SII cortices as the intensity of stimulation rises from non-painful to painful values.

Adult↗

Human brain oscillatory activity phase-locked to painful electrical stimulations: a multi-channel EEG study.

The main aims of this study were 1) a fine spatial analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations after galvanic painful stimulation (nonpainful stimulation as a reference) and 2) a comparative evaluation of phase- and nonphase-locked component of these EEG oscillations. Preliminary surface Laplacian transformation of EEG data (31 channels) reduced head volume conductor effects. EEG phase values were computed by FFT analysis and the statistical evaluation of these values was performed by Rayleigh test (P < 0.05). About 50% of the EEG single trials presented statistically the same FFT phase value of the evoked EEG oscillations (phase-locked single trials), indicating a preponderant phase-locked compared to nonphase-locked component. The remaining single trials showed random FFT phase values (nonphase-locked single trials), indicating a preponderant nonphase-locked compared to phase-locked component. Compared to nonpainful stimulation, painful stimulation increased phase-locked theta to gamma band responses in the contralateral hemisphere and decreased the phase-locked beta band response in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Furthermore, nonphase-locked alpha band response decreased in the ipsilateral fronto-central area. In conclusion, both decreased and increased EEG oscillatory responses to galvanic painful stimulation would occur in parallel in different cortical regions and in the phase- and nonphase-locked EEG data sets. This enriches the actual debate on the mapping of event-related oscillatory activity of human brain.

Afferent Pathways↗

Human cortical electroencephalography (EEG) rhythms during the observation of simple aimless movements: a high-resolution EEG study.

In the present high-resolution electroencephalographic (EEG) study, we computed event-related desynchronization and synchronization (ERD/ERS) of alpha (about 10 Hz) and beta (about 20 Hz) rhythms in association with the execution (with visual feedback) and observation of brisk unilateral right and left aimless finger movements. A first scope was to test the topographical "functional equivalence" of cortical rhythmicity related to movement execution and observation, which would represent an ideal cortical observation/execution matching system. A second scope was to evaluate the hypothesis of a left or right hemisphere prevalence of the cortical rhythmicity related to the movement observation compared to the movement execution. EEG (128 electrodes) was recorded in 10 healthy right-handed volunteers. Surface Laplacian estimation spatially enhanced EEG data over a MRI-constraint head model. Under both conditions, ERD peaked during the movement execution or observation and was replaced by a ERS "rebound" or "recovery," which peaked during the postevent period. Topographical results are in favor of a "functional equivalence" (i.e., similar ERD/ERS values in magnitude and timing) of alpha and beta rhythmicity in central scalp regions overlying premotor/primary sensorimotor cortex. On the contrary, the functional equivalence of alpha rhythmicity was negligible (i.e., different ERD/ERS values in magnitude and timing) in parietal-occipital scalp regions overlying posterior parietal and parieto-occipital cortex, which could be the neural substrate to distinguish among the own motor intensions and others' aimless movements (i.e., visuomotor transformation integrated with sensorimotor, postural, and kinematics representations). Finally, the pattern of hemispherical cortical rhythmicity did not support a "simple concentration" of movement observation functions in the left or right hemisphere.

Adult↗