Neural Correlate and Movement Decoding of Simultaneous-and-Sequential Bimanual Movements Using EEG Signals

Bimanual coordination is important for developing a natural motor brain-computer interface (BCI) from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, covering the aspects of bilateral arm training for rehabilitation, bimanual coordination for daily-life assistance, and also improving the multidimensional control of BCIs. For the same task targets of both hands, simultaneous and sequential bimanual movements are two different bimanual coordination manners. Planning and performing motor sequences are the fundamental abilities of humans, and it is more natural to execute sequential movements compared to simultaneous movements in many complex tasks. However, to date, for these two different manners in which two hands coordinated to reach the same task targets, the differences in the neural correlate and also the feasibility of movement discrimination have not been explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate these two issues based on a bimanual reaching task for the first time. Finally, neural correlates in the view of the movement-related cortical potentials, event-related oscillations, and source imaging showed unique neural encoding patterns of sequential movements. Besides, for the same task targets of both hands, the simultaneous and sequential bimanual movements were successfully discriminated in both pre-movement and movement execution periods. This study revealed the neural encoding patterns of sequential bimanual movements and presented its values in developing a more natural and good-performance motor BCI.