DEFINITIONS [TERMINOLOGY]

DEFINITIONS [TERMINOLOGY]

Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming newneural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment.

Brain reorganization takes place by mechanisms such as "axonal sprouting" in which undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurons whose links were injured or severed. Undamaged axons can also sprout nerve endings and connect with other undamaged nerve cells, forming new neural pathways to accomplish a needed function.

For example, if one hemisphere of the brain is damaged, the intact hemisphere may take over some of its functions. The brain compensates for damage in effect by reorganizing and forming new connections between intact neurons. In order to reconnect, the neurons need to be stimulated through activity.

HEBBIAN LEARNING

Hebbian learning definition

artificial intelligence 
 The most common way to train a neural network; a kind ofunsupervised learning; named after canadian neuropsychologist,Donald O. Hebb. 
The algorithm is based on Hebb's Postulate, which states thatwhere one cell's firing repeatedly contributes to the firing ofanother cell, the magnitude of this contribution will tend toincrease gradually with time. This means that what may start aslittle more than a coincidental relationship between the firing oftwo nearby neurons becomes strongly causal. 
Despite limitations with Hebbian learning, e.g., the inability to learncertain patterns, variations such as Signal Hebbian Learning andDifferential Hebbian Learning are still used. 
(http://neuron-ai.tuke.sk/NCS/VOL1/P3_htm

VIRTUAL REALITY

Virtual reality (VR) is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds. Most current virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound through speakers or headphones. Some advanced, haptic systems now include tactile information, generally known as force feedback, in  these applications.

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Enhanced Learning to Improve Rehabilitation

Specific interventions may stimulate new neural connections, enhance cortical reorganization, and promote lasting neural networks for improved motor responses 

Boyd,L.A., Vidoni, E.D., Daly, J.J. (2007). Answering the call: the influence of neuroimagining and electrophysiological evidence on rehabilitation. Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, 87(6), 684-703.

What Is Motor Learning?

Timo Järvilehto
Faculty of Education and Kajaani University Consortium, University of Oulu, Finland

timo.jarvilehto@oulu.fi

"Motor learning” is a term widely used in relation of learning of new skills, and gives the impression that motor learning is a specific form of learning. This may be seen in usual definitions of motor learning such as “Motor learning is the process of improving the smoothness and accuracy of movements” or “A motor skill is a skill that regards the ability of an organism to utilize skeletal muscles effectively”.

Such definitions imply that human behavior may be divided in sensory and motor parts the latter one being the object of motor learning. However, we may ask what really is trained in motor learning situations. In fact, the object in the training a motor skill is not the ability to perform specific contractions of the muscles with associated movements of the limbs, but rather the accomplishment of certain behaviors of acts. A trainee trying to learn how to master the motor skill of jumping as far as possible is not really training the muscles of the body for specific movements, but he is rather trying to develop the ability to achieve a certain result, the maximal distance in jumping. This result may be achieved under different circumstances by different movements, and the same movement may have different significance depending on the situation.

Thus, motor learning is not really “motor”, but the process of learning new acts for the achievement of specific results. An act, furthermore, always consists of a constellation of many components, only part of them being “motor”. In order to accomplish any act many other constituents are needed, belonging also to the sensory part of the nervous system.

Robotics and Virtual Reality

I believe there is a means to improve both Robotics and VR by mating the two therapy technologies, so that the VR front-end is enhanced by the Robot helping the subject to move affected limbs farther, or in better rhythm, thus the brain is receiving the signals from the affected limb moving in the designated path (assisted by the robot), and the brain can “see” the result visually in the VR scenario, thus integrating physical and mental practice [reference:  Mirror-box Visualization  or Guided-imagery Therapy].

BRAIN PLASTICITY

Destroyed brain cells that control them or the bundles of nerve fibers that come out of them. The recovery of language is highly variable and can occur over years. Also amenable to rehabilitation are abstract thought, memory and emotion.

BRIEF RESEARCH INTO STROKE REHABILITATION THERAPIES

After my first robot [arm & shoulder exercise  [a demonstration session – I was able to raise my left leg behind me].

·       Mirror-box therapy concepts.[ or Guided-imagery Therapy].

I used mirror box concepts to initiate my left ankle movement [3-months post stroke].

·       Hyperbaric Therapy

·       Electrical stimulus Therapy

·       TMS - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.  TMS Therapy uses a highly focused pulsed magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control certain brain functions by altering those brain structures

·       Stem Cell replacement – repairing damaged brain cells

• Aquatic therapy – balance, stretching, range of motion, strength

I have been coming to the COA for 1 ½ years – I learned to walk without a support about 3 months ago [25-months post stroke].

·       Vision Therapy -  a type of physical therapy for the eyes and brain -- is a highly effective non-surgical treatment for many common visual problems such as lazy eye, crossed eyes, double vision, convergence insufficiency and some reading and learning disabilities

• I used several different computer programs to help with resolving peripheral vision and depth perception issues [began 3-months post stroke; depth perception improved 100% after 13 months].

·       Therapeutic Goals – characteristic of most therapies:

•     Reduced tone –  throughout the entire arm, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, leg, ankle, foot.
•     Reduced pain – Stroke patients with loss of upper extremity movement often suffer shoulder pain, which sometimes can be exacerbated by therapy.
•     Improved coordination – Patients treated with Robotic Therapy have exhibited improvements in active range of motion (ROM) and in overall coordination of arm movements.
•     Improved gait – Patients whose gait was affected by their inability to properly move their upper extremities showed a marked improvement in gait following therapy sessions.
•     Functional gains – Therapists reported that following Therapy sessions, subsequent components of their patients’ therapy session were more productive, an improvement they attributed to the affects of robotic therapies.
• Brain-to-Body Connectivity = Functional gains

· Spasticity is a physiological consequence of an insult to the brain or spinal cord, that can lead to life-threatening, disabling and costly consequences (Ward 2008) It is characterised by muscle overactivity which, if left untreated, may lead to muscle and soft tissue contracture.


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