Event-related desynchronization (ERD) during movement and imagination of movement in patients with amputated limbs or spinel cord lesions compared tohealthy control subjects. ERD during imagination of movement

Event-related desynchronization (ERD) was studied during voluntary movement as well as imagination of movement. In this study patients with an amputat ed limb or spinal cord lesions were compared to healthy control subjects. T he prior aim was to investigate the efficiency of EEG signals in the contro l of prostheses by a ,,Brain-Computer-Interface" (BCl). As results indicate , not only planning and actual performance of a movement is accompanied by desynchronization of central motor area rhythms but also imagination of mov ement, though with a difference concerning the distribution. While ERD is b ilateral symmetrical during execution of movement, with imagination of move ment ERD remains to the contralateral hemisphere. This finding was shown fo r reactive frequency components in the alpha as well as the beta band. Summ arizing, EEG signals can be viewed as a useful tool in the control of proth eses, though far practical usage intensive research work is still necessary .