EEG μ-rhythm reactivity in children during imitation of biological and non-biological motion

Abstract

The development of brain-computer interfaces based on the use of EEG sensorimotor rhythms reactivity parameters and designed for the rehabilitation of people (including children) with impaired motor functions is currently relevant. The study was aimed to analyse the EEG µ-rhythm in the individual frequency range in children during imitation of biological and non-biological motion. EEG was recorded at frontal, central and parietal cortical regions in 136 normally developing right-handed children aged 4-15, at rest and during the execution and imitation of movements using the computer mouse. When the children moved the computer mouse on their own (F1, 132 = 31.17; p < 0.001) and executed the concentric moving of the coloured circle (F1, 132 = 90.34; p < 0.001), the µ-rhythm desynchronization developed in the frontal, central and parietal neocortical regions. The µ-rhythm synchronization was detected during the non-biologocal motion imitation (F1, 132 = 12.65; p < 0.001), compared to the task on the autonomous movement execution. The µ-rhythm desynchronization was observed during the biologocal motion imitation in relation to autonomous movement execution (F1, 132 = 9.58; p = 0.002). The described effects had their own features in the groups of children aged 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. The study results demonstrate the desirability of taking into account the µ-rhythm reactivity age-related features and the visual stimuli nature when developing software for the brain-computer interfaces.