Neurotechnologies as tools for cognitive rehabilitation in stroke patients

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive impairments are one of the most common remaining symptoms after a stroke. The use of neurotechnologies to enhance cognitive performance is a rapidly emerging field with encouraging results.

Areas covered: Here, the authors empirically review the respective literature and critically discuss the technologies that are currently most often used for cognitive enhancement in stroke patients, which are computerized cognitive training, virtual reality, noninvasive brain stimulation and brain-computer interfaces. The authors describe their advantages/disadvantages and the challenges and limitations to overcome.

Expert opinion: Although the current results are promising, more research is needed to be able to make conclusive statements and translate these approaches successfully in daily clinical life. Multidiscipline collaborations could aid to improve current neurotechnologies and provide guidelines for future implementations.

Keywords: BCI; CCT; Stroke; VR; brain stimulation; cognition; neurotechnology; rTMS; rehabilitation; tDCS.