ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a device that activates the sensorimotor cortex through electrodes attached to the surface of the skin. However, it is difficult to expect positive changes if the recipient is not attentive to the motion. To complement the perceived cognitive limitations of FES, we attempted to investigate the changes of sensorimotor cortex activity by simultaneously providing action observation with FES. METHODS: Electroencephalogram was measured in 28 healthy volunteers. Relative band power over the sensorimotor cortex was analyzed and compared in three conditions: during rest, during FES alone, during action observation with FES. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in each relative band power. Relative alpha power and relative beta power were the lowest by application of FES combined with action observation, while the relative gamma power was the highest. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that combining FES with observation could be more effective than FES alone in neurorehabilitation.