Neuroergonomics Metrics to evaluate Exoskeleton based Gait Rehabilitation

To quantify mental effort and track neurophysiological changes due to powered-robotic-exoskeleton based gait training objectively, we investigated the feasibility of using functional connectivity and neural efficiency metrics obtained from functional near infrared spectroscopy to monitor neurophysiological changes during powered robotic exoskeleton-based gait training in two stroke and two spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Increased functional connectivity between different brain regions were associated with improved gait performance in stroke patients but indicated increased mental workload with no gait changes in SCI patients. Neural efficiency provided cost of maintaining motor performance in all four patients. Both metrics show potential in tracking mental effort and gait training progress and may serve as valuable inputs to rehab exoskeleton brain computer interfaces and contribute to the development of personalized rehabilitation programs.