Robot Assisted Walking Affects the Synchrony Between Premotor and Somatosensory Areas

Abstract

We recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) from 14 healthy volunteers during standing and active walking with a robotic gait orthosis. Infomax independent component analysis decomposed the EEG into independent components (ICs), representing brain, muscle and artifact sources. ICs were clustered across participants based on their anatomical position and spectral patterns. Coherence was computed between clusters. We show that walking compared to standing decreases alpha (8-12Hz) band coherence between sensorimotor areas. Additionally lower gamma band (30-36Hz) coherence between the premotor cortex and the sensory cortex is enhanced. Our results suggest different functionalities at alpha and gamma synchrony on sensorimotor processing during locomotion.