Evolution of brain-computer interface technologies for stroke rehabilitation: a bibliometric integration of…

Systematic reviewFrontiers in neuroscience· 2026

Evolution of brain-computer interface technologies for stroke rehabilitation: a bibliometric integration of neural decoding and functional recovery (2016-2025).

Yutong Pan, Yiyang Huang, Mingming Bao, Xiandong Sun

Stroke RehabilitationSystematic reviewQ2IF 3.7

Most brain-computer interface stroke rehabilitation research has been published since 2020.

Evolution of brain-computer interface technologies for stroke rehabilitation: a bibliometric integration of neural decoding and functional recovery (2016-2025).

Yutong Pan … Xiandong Sun

Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026

Background

Brain-computer interface (brain-computer interface) technology represents a critical frontier in neurorehabilitation.

Purpose

This study aims to systematically analyze the global research landscape, hotspot distribution, and evolving trends of brain-computer interface interventions for upper limb rehabilitation in stroke survivors between 2016 and 2025.

Methods

Bibliometric analysis and systematic mapping were conducted using data from the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed.

n = 144

65.6%

Results

65.6%

Nearly two-thirds of all publications on this topic appeared in just the last 5-6 years.

n = 144

More results

The United States ( n = 144), China ( n = 83), and Italy were the most productive countries.

Significant burst strengths were observed for "closed-loop systems," "generative AI," and "multi-modal feedback," indicating these as the current primary frontiers.

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Conclusion

China has emerged as the second most productive country, though international cooperation with European institutions remains an area for further growth.

Evolution of brain-computer interface technologies for stroke rehabilitation: a bibliometric integration of neural decoding and functional recovery (2016-2025).

Evolution of brain-computer interface technologies for stroke rehabilitation: a bibliometric integration of neural decoding and functional recovery (2016-2025).

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