The methods disclosed herein are of use for the treatment of muscular
deficiencies. A Pavlovian system of reward is used to reinforce the
efforts of an individual to contract an impaired muscle. The device
detects patterns of electrical impulses sent from the brain to an
impaired muscle and measures the strength of the impulses against a
threshold value. If an impulse exceeding the threshold value is observed,
current is sent to electrodes causing the muscle to contract. If an
attempt is registered that does not meet the threshold value, the
threshold value is lowered and the individual makes another attempt. This
novel muscular therapy could potentially rehabilitate thousands of stroke
and spinal cord injury victims each year.
