A Framework for Corticomuscle Control Studies Using a Serious Gaming Approach

Sophisticated voluntary movements are essential for everyday functioning, making the study of how the brain controls muscle activity a central challenge in neuroscience. Investigating corticomuscular control through non-invasive electrophysiological recordings is particularly complex due to the intricate nature of neuronal signals. To address this challenge, we present a novel experimental methodology designed to study corticomuscular control using electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG). Our approach integrates a serious gaming biofeedback system with a specialized experimental protocol for simultaneous EEG-EMG data acquisition, optimized for corticomuscular studies. This work introduces, for the first time, a method for assessing brain–muscle functional connectivity during the execution of a demanding motor task. By identifying neuronal sources linked to muscular activity, this methodology has the potential to advance our understanding of motor control mechanisms. These insights could contribute to improving clinical practices and fostering the development of novel brain–computer interface technologies.