Stochastic Resonance Can Drive Adaptive Physiological Processes

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a concept from the physics and engineering communities that has applicability to both systems physiology and other living systems. In this paper, it will be argued that stochastic resonance plays a role in driving behavior in neuromechanical systems. The theory of stochastic resonance will be discussed, followed by a series of expected outcomes, and two tests of stochastic resonance in an experimental setting. These tests are exploratory in nature, and provide a means to parameterize systems that couple biological and mechanical components. Finally, the potential role of stochastic resonance in adaptive physiological systems will be discussed

A review of the effectiveness of lower limb orthoses used in cerebral palsy

To produce this review, a systematic literature search was conducted for relevant articles published in the period between the date of the previous ISPO consensus conference report on cerebral palsy (1994) and April 2008. The search terms were 'cerebral and pals* (palsy, palsies), 'hemiplegia', 'diplegia', 'orthos*' (orthoses, orthosis) orthot* (orthotic, orthotics), brace or AFO

ASSESSING THE ATTENTIONAL DEMANDS OF ADDING HAPTIC INPUT DURING OVERGROUND WALKING

Poor performance of two or more tasks have been linked to recurrent falls, lower attentional capacity and inability to allocate attention appropriately in older adults (Beauchet et al. 2008). Increasing attentional demands during walking through the addition of other tasks (i.e., modality use, cognitive tasks) can increase fall-risk in older adults, as the ability to achieve successful performance of two or more tasks is affected (Woollacott & Shumway-Cook, 2002). The addition of sensory input in the form of haptic modalities, such as light touch (LT) of a rigid railing with less than 1 newton of force (Holden, Ventura, & Lackner, 1994), or haptic anchors (Mauerberg-deCastro et al., 2014), which involves pulling a light weight (~ 125 grams) attached to a string in each hand have been observed to improve dynamic stability, while not providing mechanical support. Determining the attentional demands of haptic modalities and the effect on dynamic stability will assist in better understanding their impact on fall-risk. The primary objective of this thesis was to assess the attentional demands of haptic modalities during walking using a verbal reaction time (VRT) task in healthy, young adults. The secondary objective of this thesis was to assess the effect of haptic modalities during walking with an added VRT task on dynamic stability. Twenty-two (12 male) healthy, young adults completed the testing protocol. Participants performed walking without haptic modalities (baseline), with LT of a rigid railing, and use of haptic anchors, with and without a VRT task that involved responding to a low or high frequency tone with the word “low” or “high”, respectively. A one-way RM ANOVA [condition (Baseline/LT/Anchors)] was performed on VRTs to assess attentional demands. A 2 × 2 RM ANOVA [condition (baseline walking/haptic modality) × presence of VRT task (no VRT task/VRT task)] on all calculated kinematic variables for each haptic modality separately to measure dynamic stability and walking performance with the addition of the haptic modality and the VRT task. No significant differences were observed (p = 0.506) between VRTs during walking conditions suggesting haptic modalities require similar attentional demands compared to baseline walking. It was observed that ML MOS was significantly decreased with LT (p < 0.001) and anchors (p = 0.010) suggesting using haptic modalities affects dynamic stability. There was little effect on dynamic stability measures with the added presence of a VRT task. The effect on dynamic stability observed when using haptic modalities may be associated with the arm position and the lack of arm swing. Overall, these findings suggest haptic modalities may require similar attentional demands to baseline walking and that adding a VRT when using a haptic modality does not affect walking behaviour. Dynamic stability might be affected with modality use as indicated by changes in outcome measures related to stability and walking when the haptic modalities were used during walking

Biomechatronics: Harmonizing Mechatronic Systems with Human Beings

This eBook provides a comprehensive treatise on modern biomechatronic systems centred around human applications. A particular emphasis is given to exoskeleton designs for assistance and training with advanced interfaces in human-machine interaction. Some of these designs are validated with experimental results which the reader will find very informative as building-blocks for designing such systems. This eBook will be ideally suited to those researching in biomechatronic area with bio-feedback applications or those who are involved in high-end research on manmachine interfaces. This may also serve as a textbook for biomechatronic design at post-graduate level

From spinal central pattern generators to cortical network: integrated BCI for walking rehabilitation

Success in locomotor rehabilitation programs can be improved with the use of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Although a wealth of research has demonstrated that locomotion is largely controlled by spinal mechanisms, the brain is of utmost importance in monitoring locomotor patterns and therefore contains information regarding central pattern generation functioning. In addition, there is also a tight coordination between the upper and lower limbs, which can also be useful in controlling locomotion. The current paper critically investigates different approaches that are applicable to this field: the use of electroencephalogram (EEG), upper limb electromyogram (EMG), or a hybrid of the two neurophysiological signals to control assistive exoskeletons used in locomotion based on programmable central pattern generators (PCPGs) or dynamic recurrent neural networks (DRNNs). Plantar surface tactile stimulation devices combined with virtual reality may provide the sensation of walking while in a supine position for use of training brain signals generated during locomotion. These methods may exploit mechanisms of brain plasticity and assist in the neurorehabilitation of gait in a variety of clinical conditions, including stroke, spinal trauma, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy

Biomechanics

Biomechanics is a vast discipline within the field of Biomedical Engineering. It explores the underlying mechanics of how biological and physiological systems move. It encompasses important clinical applications to address questions related to medicine using engineering mechanics principles. Biomechanics includes interdisciplinary concepts from engineers, physicians, therapists, biologists, physicists, and mathematicians. Through their collaborative efforts, biomechanics research is ever changing and expanding, explaining new mechanisms and principles for dynamic human systems. Biomechanics is used to describe how the human body moves, walks, and breathes, in addition to how it responds to injury and rehabilitation. Advanced biomechanical modeling methods, such as inverse dynamics, finite element analysis, and musculoskeletal modeling are used to simulate and investigate human situations in regard to movement and injury. Biomechanical technologies are progressing to answer contemporary medical questions. The future of biomechanics is dependent on interdisciplinary research efforts and the education of tomorrow’s scientists