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Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are invasive or non-invasivetechnologies allowing brain signals to be translated into commandsof the external devices. Nowadays this technology isactively developing for the use in rehabilitation of patients withneurological diseases. Such interfaces can serve as a means ofinteraction with the outside world for patients with the lockedin syndrome. Using BCI patients with movement disorderscould control robotic prostheses, wheelchairs and other externaltechnical devices. Interfaces with biofeedback can facilitate thereorganization of the damaged cortex. Patients with neurologicaldisorders were found to be able to use brain-computer interface.Nevertheless, it is necessary to perform larger controlled clinicalstudies for the evaluation of BCI effectiveness in neurorehabilitation.

The aim of study was to assess the feasibility of motor imagery supported brain-computer interface in patients with hemiparesis. 13 patients with central paresis of the hand and 15 healthy volunteers were learning to control EEG-based interface with feedback. No differences on interface control quality were found between patients and healthy subjects. The trainings were accompanied by the desynchronization of sensorimotor rhythm. In patients with cortical damage the source of EEG-activity was dislocated.

Aim - to evaluate the efficiency of the motor recovery rehabilitation procedure with the use of hand exoskeleton controlled by the brain-computer interface (BCI). Materials and methods. 60 post-stroke patients participated in the study. 46 patients had ischemic stroke and 14 had hemorrhagic stroke. 42 patients of the main experimental group were trained in kinesthetic motor imagery using hand exoskeleton controlled by BCI, 18 patients of the control group carried out the imitating procedure. Exoskeleton - BCI system consists of encephalograph NVX52 («Medical Computer Systems», Russia), personal computer and hand exoskeleton («Android Technique», Russia). Motor functions were estimated by neurological scales ARAT and Fugl-Meyer. Results were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and x2 tests, Spearman's correlation and RM-ANOVA using Statsoft Statistica v. 6.0. Results. It is shown that post-stroke patients are able to control BCI with the same efficiency as healthy subjects, regardless of the duration, severity and localization of the disease. Ten days of BCI training significantly improved patients’ motor functions according to neurological scales ARAT and Fugl-Meyer. Improvement was mainly provided by the small movements of the hand. According to several sections of neurological scales, improvement in the main group is significantly higher than in the control group. However, according to general scores, statistically significant difference between two groups was not observed. Conclusion. It is shown that the rehabilitation procedure using hand exsoskeleton controlled by BCI significantly improves motor functions of the paretic arm regardless of the duration, severity and localization of the disease. Increase of the training duration enhances the rehabilitation efficiency.