Temporal alignment of electrocorticographic recordings using upper limb kinematics

The purpose of this study is to align electrocortico-graphic (ECoG) recordings using the limb kinematics in order to identify the neural activities attributed to the movement. This illustrates the underlying neural activity related to the upper limb movements. The functional relationship between the movement-related brain activity and kinematics of the limb would illustrate the neural processes that may be used to help restore mobility in individuals with paralysis. The identified neural processes may also help neuroscientists understand how the human nervous system works. Two subjects with subdural electrodes implanted over the primary motor cortex were asked to perform various motor tasks with the specific arm contralateral to the site of electrode implantation. ECoG signals and upper limb kinematics were recorded simultaneously while the participants were performing the movements. We obtained time-averaged and averaged spectrogram of the cortical activity of specific movements performed by the participants. We found a high correlation between the averaged signals and the upper limb kinematics.