Avaliação da atividade cortical durante tarefa funcional de membros inferiores em ambiente virtual e real

Abstract

Introduction: Brain activity is defined as the propagation of electrical impulses in order to promote a functional integration of the brain. Electroencephalography is one of the techniques that allows brain activity’s monitoring by using non-invasive and wireless interfaces. Studies involving EEG have investigated the relationship between changes in patterns of brain activity and in individual behavior. However, knowledge about brain activity during motor tasks and how this activity is characterized in virtual or real environments is still unclear. Objective: Compare theta, alpha, beta and gamma power in healthy young adults during a lower limb motor task performed in a virtual and real environment. Methodology: Cross-over study in which 10 healthy young adults were subjected to an EEG assessment while performing a one-minute task consisted of going up and down a step in a virtual environment (performed by the virtual game “Basic step”) and real environment. Wilcoxon and t'Student tests were executed to analyze data. Results: Descriptively, theta and alpha power were higher in real environment while beta and gamma power were higher in virtual environment. Virtual environment caused greater activation of the right hemisphere and anterior-frontal channels bilaterally. Furthermore, in theta frequency, the right occipital region’s activity in real environment was higher than in virtual environment (p <0.05). Conclusion: Theta, alpha, beta and gamma power observed while performing a motor task present variation according to environment in which the individual is being exposed - real or virtual. Thus, we emphasize the implementation of future studies in order to promote basis for clinical decision-making so that the choice of the therapeutic environment (real or virtual) would be according to the brain areas that are in need for activation.