Electrophysiological Correlates of Virtual-Reality Applications in the Rehabilitation Setting: New Perspectives for Stroke Patients

Abstract

Here we reviewed the last evidence on the application of electroencephalography (EEG) as a non-invasive and portable neuroimaging method useful to extract hallmarks of neuroplasticity induced by virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation approaches in stroke patients. In the neurorehabilitation context, VR training has been used extensively to hamper the effects of motor treatments on the stroke’s brain. The concept underlying VR therapy is to improve brain plasticity by engaging users in multisensory training. In this narrative review, we present the key concepts of VR protocols applied to the rehabilitation of stroke patients and critically discuss challenges of EEG signal when applied as endophenotype to extract neurophysiological markers. When VR technology was applied to magnify the effects of treatments on motor recovery, significant EEG-related neural improvements were detected in the primary motor circuit either in terms of power spectral density or as time-frequency domains.