Motor Imagery Training of Reaching-to-Grasp Movement Supplemented by a Virtual Environment in an Individual With Congenital Bilateral Transverse Upper-Limb Deficiency

This study explored the effect of kinesthetic motor imagery training on reaching-to-grasp movement supplemented by a virtual environment in a patient with congenital bilateral transverse upper-limb deficiency. Based on a theoretical assumption, it is possible to conduct such training in this patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether cortical activity related to motor imagery of reaching and motor imagery of grasping of the right upper limb was changed by computer-aided imagery training (CAIT) in a patient who was born without upper limbs compared to a healthy control subject, as characterized by multi-channel electroencephalography (EEG) signals recorded before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after CAIT. The main task during CAIT was to kinesthetically imagine the execution of reaching-to-grasp movements without any muscle activation, supplemented by computer visualization of movements provided by a special headset. Our experiment showed that CAIT can be conducted in the patient with higher vividness of imagery for reaching than grasping tasks. Our results confirm that CAIT can change brain activation patterns in areas related to motor planning and the execution of reaching and grasping movements, and that the effect was more pronounced in the patient than in the healthy control subject. The results show that CAIT has a different effect on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a reaching task than on the cortical activity related to the motor imagery of a grasping task. The change observed in the activation patterns could indicate CAIT-induced neuroplasticity, which could potentially be useful in rehabilitation or brain-computer interface purposes for such patients, especially before and after transplantation. This study was part of a registered experiment (ID: NCT04048083).

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Motor imagery training improves precision of an upper limb movement in patients with hemiparesis

Neurorehabilitation ◽

10.3233/nre-151203 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 157-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Luzia Grabherr ◽

Corinne Jola ◽

Gilberto Berra ◽

Robert Theiler ◽

Fred W. Mast

Keyword(s):

Motor Imagery ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Limb Movement ◽

Imagery Training

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Using an interactive virtual environment to integrate a digital Action Research Arm Test, motor imagery and action observation to assess and improve upper limb motor function in patients with neuromuscular impairments: a usability and feasibility study protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019646 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e019646 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Frank Behrendt ◽

Corina Schuster-Amft

Keyword(s):

Action Research ◽

Virtual Environment ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Action Observation ◽

Training System ◽

Digital Version ◽

System Usability Scale ◽

Interactive Virtual Environment

IntroductionIn the recent past, training systems using an interactive virtual environment have been introduced to neurorehabilitation. Such systems can be applied to encourage purposeful limb movements and will increasingly be used at home by the individual patient. Therefore, an integrated valid and reliable assessment tool on the basis of such a system to monitor the recovery process would be an essential asset.ObjectivesThe aim of the study is to evaluate usability, feasibility and validity of the digital version of the Action Research Arm Test using the Bi-Manu-Trainer system as a platform. Additionally, the feasibility and usability of the implementation of action observation and motor imagery tasks into the Bi-Manu-Trainer software will be evaluated.Patients and methodsThis observational study is planned as a single-arm trial for testing the new assessment and the action observation and motor imagery training module. Therefore, 75 patients with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury or Guillain-Barré syndrome will be included. 30 out of the 75 patients will additionally take part in a 4-week training on the enhanced Bi-Manu-Trainer system. Primary outcomes will be the score on the System Usability Scale and the correlation between the conventional and digital Action Research Arm Test scores. Secondary outcomes will be hand dexterity, upper limb activities of daily living and quality of life.HypothesisWe hypothesise that the digital Action Research Arm Test assessment is a valid and essential tool and that it is feasible to incorporate action observation and motor imagery into Bi-Manu-Trainer practice. The results are expected to give recommendations for necessary modifications and might also contribute knowledge concerning the application of action observation and motor imagery tasks using a training system such as the Bi-Manu-Trainer.Trial registration numberNCT03268304; Pre-results.

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The healthy control subject in psychiatric research: impulsiveness and volunteer bias

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0447.1997.tb09924.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 96 (5) ◽

pp. 325-328 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

J. P. Gustavsson ◽

M. Åsberg ◽

O. Schilling

Keyword(s):

Control Subject ◽

Healthy Control Subject ◽

Psychiatric Research ◽

Volunteer Bias ◽

Healthy Control

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HLA-DRβ2 and IgM Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1177/039463208800100204 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 119-122

Author(s):

G. Haberhauer ◽

P. Peichl

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Rheumatoid Factor ◽

Control Subject ◽

Disease Susceptibility ◽

Healthy Control Subject ◽

Chain Gene ◽

Igm Rheumatoid Factor ◽

Healthy Control

48 patients suffering from classic erosive RA with conditions persisting for more than 6 years were examined together with 69 healthy control subject with regard to associations to supertypic HLA-D specificities. We found a significant increase of HLA-DRw53 in patients with RF positive RA (22/31 pat. = 71%,Chi2 = 13.2, p<0.01). Our results confirm the hypothesis that the HLA-DRβ2 chain gene is closer related to the disease susceptibility of seropositive RA than the DRβ1 chain gene (DR4).

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