scholarly journals Reorganization of Resting-State EEG Functional Connectivity Patterns in Children with Cerebral Palsy Following a Motor Imagery Virtual-Reality Intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2372
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Stefano Filho ◽  
José Ignacio Serrano ◽  
Romis Attux ◽  
Gabriela Castellano ◽  
Eduardo Rocon ◽  
...  

Motor imagery (MI) has been suggested to provide additional benefits when included in traditional approaches of physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Regardless, little is understood about the underlying neurological substrates that might justify its supposed benefits. In this work, we studied resting-state (RS) electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of five children with CP that underwent a MI virtual-reality (VR) intervention. Our aim was to explore functional connectivity (FC) patterns alterations following this intervention through the formalism of graph theory, performing both group and subject-specific analyses. We found that FC patterns were more consistent across subjects prior to the MI-VR intervention, shifting along the anterior-posterior axis, post-intervention, for the β and γ bands. Additionally, group FC patterns were not found for the α range. Furthermore, intra-subject analyses reinforced the existence of large inter-subject variability and the need for a careful exploration of individual pattern alterations. Such patterns also hinted at a dependency between short-term functional plasticity mechanisms and the EEG frequency bands. Although our sample size is small, we provide a longitudinal analysis framework that can be replicated in future studies, especially at the group level, and whose foundation can be easily extended to verify the validity of our hypotheses.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. e0206985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Albrecht ◽  
Chloe N. Vaughn ◽  
Molly A. Erickson ◽  
Sarah M. Clark ◽  
Leonardo H. Tonelli

Author(s):  
Arūnė Dūdaitė ◽  
Vilma Juodžbalienė

Research background. Virtual reality and visual feedback improve motor performance, motor function and balance, so we want to fnd if it affects the function of legs and balance of children with spastic hemiplegia. Research aim was to establish if the use of virtual reality and visual feedback with traditional physiotherapy improve the function of legs and balance of children with cerebral palsy. Methods. Nine children with cerebral palsy participated in the research. Participants were randomly divided into two groups – virtual reality group (n = 6) and control (n = 3). Virtual reality group practised exergaming and stretching exercises for 10 weeks, twice a week. Control group practiced conventional physiotherapy and stretching exercises for 6 weeks, twice a week. We measured the range of motion of the lower limb, spasticity of the lower limb using Modifed Ashworth’o Scale, static, dynamic balance, trunk coordination using Trunk Impairment Scale at the start and the end of the research, and balance using Pediatric Balance Scale. Results. Virtual reality and visual feedback reduced the spasticity of the lower limb, improved balance and postural control for children with cerebral palsy, but it did not improve the range of motion of the lower limb of children with cerebral palsy. Conclusions. Virtual reality and visual feedback did not improve the range of motion of the lower limb of children with cerebral palsy. Virtual reality and visual feedback reduced spasticity of the lower limb, improved balance and postural control for children with cerebral palsy.Keywords. Cerebral palsy, virtual reality, visual feedback, postural control, muscle architecture.


2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 852-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Lon Chen ◽  
Tomas Ros ◽  
John H. Gruzelier

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