RESUMEN
Objective. To investigate the possibility of using a bioengineering system, which includes an electroencephalograph and a personal computer with a software for synchronous data transmission, recognition and classification of EEG signals, development of directions for intended actions in real time in the combination with the hand exoskeleton (the bioengineering system "brain-computer interface + exoskeleton"), in motor rehabilitation of post stroke patients with paresis of the upper extremity. Material and methods. Brain-computer interface is a promising field of neurorehabilitation. Rehabilitation treatment, including 8-10 sessions, was conducted in 5 patients with paresis of the upper extremity. All patients had large MRI lesions in cortical/subcortical areas. Results. Positive changes in neurological status measured with the NIHSS, a significant increase in the volume and power of movements in the paretic hand, improvement of coordination and slight decrease in the level of spasticity were found after the treatment. There was an increase in daily activities measured with the Barthel index, mostly due to the improvement of fine motor skills. The level of disability assessed by the modified Rankin scale was changed significantly. Conclusion. The use of "brain-computer interface + exoskeleton" in the rehabilitation of post stroke patients with hand paresis provided positive results that would need to be verified in further studies.
RESUMEN
Right-handed human subjects of 4 different ages (5-6, 8-9, 11-12 yo. and adult subjects) performed simple graphical movements in a cyclic manner with maximal possible tempo. The movements differed with respect to their coordination and serial complexity and were performed by each hand while holding the stylus either by the fingers or the fist. It was found that cycle duration considerably decreased with age from the age of 5 to adulthood and the amount of the age-related gain in the performance rate depended on which hand (right vs. left) and/or grip (fingers vs. fist) was used to perform a movement. The rate of successive submovements neither changed substantially with age nor showed any lateral asymmetry however it did depend on the movement being performed and the grip being used. The results show that the age-related trend in the cyclic movements can almost entirely be accounted for by a reduction in the number of submovements in a cycle. The results are discussed in the view of the hypothesis that considers submovements to be the building blocks of a graphical movement.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento/fisiología , Desarrollo Infantil/fisiología , Dedos/fisiología , Fuerza de la Mano/fisiología , Movimiento/fisiología , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
Manual preference (handedness) of the elementary school children had being compared to the parameters of early development and existence of left-handed relatives. Elevated percent of left handers was found both among children born after some complications during pregnancy or delivery and among children having left handed relatives. Those two factors acted independently. Body size at birth was found bigger in babys having left handed relatives.
Asunto(s)
Desarrollo Fetal , Lateralidad Funcional/fisiología , Tamaño Corporal/genética , Niño , Femenino , Lateralidad Funcional/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Linaje , Embarazo , Complicaciones del Embarazo/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Patients with the initial stage of Parkinson disease (PD) and matched controls performed repetitive bendings and turnings in standing position. Tasks included trunk movements in each of the anatomical planes: sagittal, frontal and axial. Electromagnetic system Flock of Birds was used for movement registration. Sensors were fixed at different segments of subject's body. Joint angles in the ankle, hip and torso as well as coordinates of the center of pressure served as output parameters. The amplitudes of joint angles were found to be lower in PD patients. Performance of the axial rotation revealed most pronounced differences. Thus, the amplitudes of joint angles of trunk movements in different anatomical planes reliably discriminate between PD patients and healthy subjects.