Analysis of the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on corticomuscular coupling during standing balance.
10.7507/1001-5515.202404032
- Author:
Weijie KE
1
;
Zhizeng LUO
1
Author Information
1. Institute of Intelligent Control and Robotics, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, P. R. China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Center of pressure;
Cortico-muscular coupling;
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation;
Standing balance
- MeSH:
Humans;
Postural Balance/physiology*;
Electromyography;
Electroencephalography;
Muscle, Skeletal/physiology*;
Electric Stimulation;
Motor Cortex/physiology*;
Male;
Standing Position;
Adult;
Female
- From:
Journal of Biomedical Engineering
2024;41(6):1227-1234
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been proven to promote human balance, but research on its impact on motor ability mainly focuses on external physical analysis, with little analysis on the intrinsic neural regulatory mechanisms. This study, for the first time, investigated the effects of NMES on cortical activity and cortico-muscular functional coupling (CMFC) during standing balance. Twelve healthy subjects were recruited in bilateral NMES training, with each session consisting of 60 electrically induced isometric contractions. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, electromyogram (EMG) signals, and center of pressure (COP) signals of the foot sole were collected before stimulation, two weeks after stimulation, and four weeks after stimulation while the subjects maintained standing balance. The results showed that NMES training improved subjects' postural stability during standing balance. Additionally, based on the EMG power spectral density (PSD), the κ frequency band was defined, and EEG-EMG time-frequency maximal information coefficients (TFMIC) were calculated. It was found that NMES enhanced functional connectivity between the cortex and lower limb muscles, with varying degrees of increase in β-κ and γ-κ frequency band CMFC after stimulation. Furthermore, sample entropy (SE) of EEG signals also increased after training. The results of this study confirm that NMES training can enhance CMFC and brain activation during standing balance. This study, from the perspective of physiological electrical signals, validates the effectiveness of NMES for balance training and provides objective assessment metrics for the training effects of NMES.
