Decision letter for "Effects of mirror neuron system‐based training on rehabilitation of stroke patients"

Even in nations with well-established comprehensive strategy with the aim to achieve full coverage to rehabilitation, half of the stroke patients remain dependent on activities of daily living (ADL) 3 months post stroke. Therefore, in the last few years part of the scientific community is increasingly focusing on development of innovative therapeutic concepts to increase effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation. In the following article we discuss a new approach in recovery of stroke patients with the use of a mirror. A mirror is positioned orthogonally in front of a patient. The less-affected arm is moved while the patient is observing this movement in the mirror. The illusion is created that he affected arm is moving. Despite the enthusiastic response that mirror therapy has received, not every stroke patient benefits from mirror therapy. This circumstance reflects that an individualised therapy approach is necessary for an effective rehabilitation regime of stroke patients.

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Clinical Feasibility of Action Observation Based on Mirror Neuron System on Walking Performance in Post Stroke Patients

Journal of Physical Therapy Science ◽

10.1589/jpts.24.597 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 597-599 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jin-seop Kim ◽

Kyoung Kim

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Neuron System ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Walking Performance

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Is it necessary to show virtual limbs in action observation neurorehabilitation systems?

Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering ◽

10.1177/2055668319859140 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205566831985914 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cristián Modroño ◽

Sergi Bermúdez ◽

Mónica Cameirão ◽

Fábio Pereira ◽

Teresa Paulino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Action Observation ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Neuron System

Introduction Action observation neurorehabilitation systems are usually based on the observation of a virtual limb performing different kinds of actions. In this way, the activity in the frontoparietal Mirror Neuron System is enhanced, which can be helpful to rehabilitate stroke patients. However, the presence of limbs in such systems might not be necessary to produce mirror activity, for example, frontoparietal mirror activity can be produced just by the observation of virtual tool movements. The objective of this work was to explore to what point the presence of a virtual limb impacts the Mirror Neuron System activity in neurorehabilitation systems. Methods The study was conducted by using an action observation neurorehabilitation task during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment with healthy volunteers and comparing two action observation conditions that: 1 – included or 2 – did not include a virtual limb. Results It was found that activity in the Mirror Neuron System was similar during both conditions (i.e. virtual limb present or absent). Conclusions These results open up the possibility of using new tasks that do not include virtual limbs in action observation neurorehabilitation environments, which can give more freedom to develop such systems.

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