“Tricking the Brain” Using Immersive Virtual Reality: Modifying the Self-Perception Over Embodied Avatar Influences Motor Cortical Excitability and Action Initiation

To offer engaging neurorehabilitation training to neurologic patients, motor tasks are often visualized in virtual reality (VR). Recently introduced head-mounted displays (HMDs) allow to realistically mimic the body of the user from a first-person perspective (i.e., avatar) in a highly immersive VR environment. In this immersive environment,...

Resting-State Functional Networks Correlate with Motor Performance in a Complex Visuomotor Task: An EEG Microstate Pilot Study on Healthy Individuals

Developing motor and cognitive skills is needed to achieve expert (motor) performance or functional recovery from a neurological condition, e.g., after stroke. While extensive practice plays an essential role in the acquisition of good motor performance, it is still unknown whether certain person-specific traits may predetermine the rate of...

Naturalistic visualization of reaching movements using head-mounted displays improves movement quality compared to conventional computer screens and proves high usability

Background: The relearning of movements after brain injury can be optimized by providing intensive, meaningful, and motivating training using virtual reality (VR). However, most current solutions use two-dimensional (2D) screens, where patients interact via symbolic representations of their limbs (e.g., a cursor). These 2D screens lack depth...

Explicitness of Task Instructions Supports Motor Learning and Modulates Engagement of Attentional Brain Networks

Motor learning is a complex cognitive and motor process underlying neurorehabilitation. Cognitive (e.g., attentional) engagement is important for motor learning, especially early in the learning process. In this study, we investigated if task instructions enforcing the underlying task rule of a virtual sailing task modulate attentional...

Assessment of Clinical Requirements for a Novel Robotic Device for Upper-Limb Sensorimotor Rehabilitation After Stroke

In order to identify the clinical requirements for a novel upper-limb robotic device for sensorimotor neurorehabilitation, a survey with 33 participants (including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses and physicians) was conducted. The results show that grasping, eating and personal hygiene are amongst the most...

Design of a Haptic Palmar Device with Thumb Flexion and Circumduction Movements for Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation

To address the clinical need for high-intensity, repetitive sensorimotor hand training after stroke, we developed in a first step a novel haptic device for practicing finger movements. Because the thumb plays a fundamental role in the loss of autonomy and prehensile functions after stroke, we present here the development of a thumb module that...

A Novel Clinical-Driven Design for Robotic Hand Rehabilitation: Combining Sensory Training, Effortless Setup, and Large Range of Motion in a Palmar Device

Neurorehabilitation research suggests that not only high training intensity, but also somatosensory information plays a fundamental role in the recovery of stroke patients. Yet, there is currently a lack of easy-to-use robotic solutions for sensorimotor hand rehabilitation. We addressed this shortcoming by developing a novel clinical-driven...