Multimodal Evaluation of Motor Imagery Training Supported by Mobile EEG at Home: A Case Report

Motor imagery (MI), the mental performance of movements, combined with real-time electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback has been suggested a promising add-on therapy to facilitate motor recovery after stroke. Yet to what extend mental training shapes brain function and structure is not well understood. The present investigation explored functional and structural changes using a multimodal framework after four weeks of MI neurofeedback training. Efficient MI training was archived by using a low-density mobile EEG system at the participants´ home. Following training functional changes as increased classification accuracies, stronger contra lateral EEG and BOLD activity were observed. Functional plasticity was accompanied by structural changes in gray matter. Together, this proof-of concept investigation provides preliminary evidence that MI training induces systematic changes in brain function and structure.