Kinect-based detection of self-paced hand movements: Enhancing functional brain mapping paradigms

Monitoring and interpreting (sub)cortical reorganization after stroke may be useful for selecting therapies and improving rehabilitation outcome. To develop computational models that predict behavioral motor improvement from changing brain activation pattern, we are currently working on the implementation of a clinically feasible experimental set-up, which enables recording high quality electroencephalography (EEG) signals during inpatient rehabilitation of upper and lower limbs. The major drawback of current experimental paradigms is the cue-guided repetitive design and the lack of functional movements. In this paper, we assess the usability of the Kinect device (Microsoft Inc., Redmond, WA, USA) for tracking self-paced hand opening and closing movements. Three able-bodied volunteers performed self-paced right hand open-close movement sequences while EEG was recorded from sensorimotor areas and electromyography (EMG) from the right arm from extensor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis muscles. The results of the study suggest that the Kinect device allows generation of trigger information that is comparable to the information that can be obtained from EMG.