F Ferreri1, D Ponzo1, L Vollero2, A Guerra3, G Di Pino4, S Petrichella2, A Benvenuto5, M Tombini3, L Rossini6, L Denaro7, S Micera8, G Iannello2, E Guglielmelli5, V Denaro9, P M Rossini10. 1. Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 2. Department of Biomedical Research, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. 4. Department of Neurology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems Laboratory, Centre for Integrated Research, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. 5. Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems Laboratory, Centre for Integrated Research, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. 6. Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems Laboratory, Centre for Integrated Research, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy IRCCS S. Raffaele-Pisana, Rome, Italy. 7. Department of Neurosurgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. 8. Advanced Robotics Technology and Systems Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy Institute for Automation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. 9. Department of Orthopaedics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy. 10. IRCCS S. Raffaele-Pisana, Rome, Italy Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Following limb amputation, central and peripheral nervous system relays partially maintain their functions and can be exploited for interfacing prostheses. The aim of this study is to investigate, for the first time by means of an EEG-TMS co-registration study, whether and how direct bidirectional connection between brain and hand prosthesis impacts on sensorimotor cortical topography. METHODS: Within an experimental protocol for robotic hand control, a 26 years-old, left-hand amputated male was selected to have implanted four intrafascicular electrodes (tf-LIFEs-4) in the median and ulnar nerves of the stump for 4 weeks. Before tf-LIFE-4s implant (T0) and after the training period, once electrodes have been removed (T1), experimental subject's cortico-cortical excitability, connectivity and plasticity were tested via a neuronavigated EEG-TMS experiment. RESULTS: The statistical analysis clearly demonstrated a significant modulation (with t-test p < 0.0001) of EEG activity between 30 and 100 ms post-stimulus for the stimulation of the right hemisphere. When studying individual latencies in that time range, a global amplitude modulation was found in most of the TMS-evoked potentials; particularly, the GEE analysis showed significant differences between T0 and T1 condition at 30 ms (p < 0.0404), 46 ms (p < 0.0001) and 60 ms (p < 0.007) latencies. Finally, also a clear local decrement in N46 amplitude over C4 was evident. No differences between conditions were observed for the stimulation of the left hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that bidirectional neural interface could redirect cortical areas -deprived of their original input/output functions- toward restorative neuroplasticity. This reorganization strongly involves bi-hemispheric networks and intracortical and transcortical modulation of GABAergic inhibition.
PURPOSE: Following limb amputation, central and peripheral nervous system relays partially maintain their functions and can be exploited for interfacing prostheses. The aim of this study is to investigate, for the first time by means of an EEG-TMS co-registration study, whether and how direct bidirectional connection between brain and hand prosthesis impacts on sensorimotor cortical topography. METHODS: Within an experimental protocol for robotic hand control, a 26 years-old, left-hand amputated male was selected to have implanted four intrafascicular electrodes (tf-LIFEs-4) in the median and ulnar nerves of the stump for 4 weeks. Before tf-LIFE-4s implant (T0) and after the training period, once electrodes have been removed (T1), experimental subject's cortico-cortical excitability, connectivity and plasticity were tested via a neuronavigated EEG-TMS experiment. RESULTS: The statistical analysis clearly demonstrated a significant modulation (with t-test p < 0.0001) of EEG activity between 30 and 100 ms post-stimulus for the stimulation of the right hemisphere. When studying individual latencies in that time range, a global amplitude modulation was found in most of the TMS-evoked potentials; particularly, the GEE analysis showed significant differences between T0 and T1 condition at 30 ms (p < 0.0404), 46 ms (p < 0.0001) and 60 ms (p < 0.007) latencies. Finally, also a clear local decrement in N46 amplitude over C4 was evident. No differences between conditions were observed for the stimulation of the left hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the hypothesis that bidirectional neural interface could redirect cortical areas -deprived of their original input/output functions- toward restorative neuroplasticity. This reorganization strongly involves bi-hemispheric networks and intracortical and transcortical modulation of GABAergic inhibition.
Authors: Giovanni Di Pino; Giovanni Pellegrino; Giovanni Assenza; Fioravante Capone; Florinda Ferreri; Domenico Formica; Federico Ranieri; Mario Tombini; Ulf Ziemann; John C Rothwell; Vincenzo Di Lazzaro Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2014-09-09 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Margherita Tecilla; Andrea Guerra; Lorenzo Rocchi; Sara Määttä; Matteo Bologna; Maria Herrojo Ruiz; Roberta Biundo; Angelo Antonini; Florinda Ferreri Journal: Brain Sci Date: 2022-05-12
Authors: Florinda Ferreri; Fabrizio Vecchio; Luca Vollero; Andrea Guerra; Sara Petrichella; David Ponzo; Sara Määtta; Esa Mervaala; Mervi Könönen; Francesca Ursini; Patrizio Pasqualetti; Giulio Iannello; Paolo Maria Rossini; Vincenzo Di Lazzaro Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2016-03-04 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Federico Ranieri; Giovanni Pellegrino; Anna Lisa Ciancio; Gabriella Musumeci; Emiliano Noce; Angelo Insola; Lorenzo Alirio Diaz Balzani; Vincenzo Di Lazzaro; Giovanni Di Pino Journal: J Physiol Date: 2022-01-12 Impact factor: 6.228