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Assessment Of A Hand Exoskeleton On Proximal And Distal Training In Virtual Environments For Robot Mediated Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Kevin Abbruzzese
Assessment Of A Hand Exoskeleton On Proximal And Distal Training In Virtual Environments For Robot Mediated Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Kevin Abbruzzese
Dissertations
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States with approximately 800,000 cases per year. This cerebral vascular accident results in neurological impairments that reduce limb function and limit the daily independence of the individual. Evidence suggests that therapeutic interventions with repetitive motor training can aid in functional recovery of the paretic limb. Robotic rehabilitation may present an exercise intervention that can improve training and induce motor plasticity in individuals with stroke. An active (motorized) hand exoskeleton that provides support for wrist flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, pronation/supination, and finger pinch is integrated with a pre-existing 3-Degree of Freedom (DOF) haptic …
Plasticity Of The Cortical Representation Of Finger Extensors Induced By Paired Associative Stimulation, Ian Anthony Gerard Lafond
Plasticity Of The Cortical Representation Of Finger Extensors Induced By Paired Associative Stimulation, Ian Anthony Gerard Lafond
Dissertations
This dissertation first explored associative plasticity of the human motor cortical representation with the use of noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paired with peripheral electrical stimulation. Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS) has grown in popularity because of its potential clinical applications. PAS techniques are used in combination with electromyography (EMG) measurements to study cortical excitability and features of hand movement. This work focuses on a cohesive approach to answer central questions about: the ideal mechanism to facilitate cortical plasticity via PAS, the interaction between the behavior performed and type of stimulation delivered to the targeted cortical network and the effects of …
Virtual Reality Visual Feedback And Its Effect On Brain Excitability, Soha Saleh
Virtual Reality Visual Feedback And Its Effect On Brain Excitability, Soha Saleh
Dissertations
This dissertation examines manipulation of visual feedback in virtual reality (VR) to increase excitability of distinct neural networks in the sensorimotor cortex. The objective is to explore neural responses to visual feedback of motor activities performed in complex virtual environments during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and to identify sensory manipulations that could further optimize VR rehabilitation of persons with hemiparesis. In addition, the effects of VR therapy on brain reorganization are investigated. An MRI-compatible VR system is used to provide subjects with online visual feedback of their hand movement. First, the author develops a protocol to analyze variability in …