Learning of a postural control task by elderly post-stroke patients

The aim of this study was to compare the learning process of a postural control task between post-stroke patients and healthy subjects. The sample was composed of 20 post-stroke individuals (Experimental Group) and 20 aged matched healthy individuals (Control Group). Participants practiced a postural control task in a virtual environment with increasing of complexity. The study design involved four phases: pre-test (five trials), acquisition phase (four blocks of thirty minutes), post-test (five trials), and retention test (five trials after a week without practice). The statistical analysis was run by a 2 x 3 ANOVA (groups x learning tests). Results: There was no difference in motor learning between Experimental Group and Control Group (F= 41.22; p=0.88). In addition, it was founded that the Control Group could learn the task in a higher-level complexity than Experimental Group (F = 4.77; p = 0.01), and both groups increased the error during the trials of practice (F = 0.53; p = 0.00) because of task complexity.  Conclusion: Therefore has been found that post-stroke individuals have the ability to learn a postural control task similar to healthy subjects, and the task complexity seems to be a key-factor in order to differentiate stroke from healthy subject's motor learning process

Motor learning in post stroke subjects: the effects of practice conditions on the temporal synchronization

<div><p>Abstract AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of practice schedule on the motor learning of a synchronization timing task in post-stroke subjects. Subjects and METHODS Seventeen post-stroke individuals were assigned to the experimental group and for the control group were selected seventeen healthy individuals. At the acquisition phase, all participants performed 30 trials of a coincident timing task. Nine individuals from each group practiced constantly and eight from each group practiced randomly, with speed changes in the task. Subsequent phases included: 1) immediate transfer test and 2) long term transfer test after 3 days. Data were analyzed in relation to absolute, variable, and constant errors to assess the performance concerning accuracy, consistence, and direction of responses, respectively. RESULTS All groups increased their accuracy through the practice and were able to adapt it in different speeds. The stroke subjects were more variable in their motor responses. There was no effect of the practice schedule on motor learning, regardless the presence or absence of the neurologic damage. CONCLUSION Post stroke individuals were able to learn a synchronizing task and the capacity of adapt their performance after speed perturbation was preserved. There was no effect of the practice schedule on motor learning.</p></div

Development and preliminary research on the measure properties of a perceptual and motor demands assessment protocol for virtual reality systems

The virtual reality has been frequently required in rehabilitation settings. However, it still lacks specificity, making it necessary to establish specific criteria to classify the most relevant aspects of electronic games to allow interventions based on virtual reality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a “Perceptual and motor demands assessment protocol for virtual reality systems” and to investigate its content validity and intra and inter observer agreement. The protocol was created through a literature review including classical studies as well as a review of recent articles about motor behavior, physical training, cognitive neuroscience and virtual reality. The previous versions were presented in study group meetings and congresses, and modified accordingly to suggestions of experts. Three examiners used the final version to analyze twice the total of 20 videos of individuals in a virtual environment and answered a questionnaire about its content validity. Most of the obtained values were classified as “good” (concordance from 80% to 89%) or “excellent” (concordance from 90% to 100%) by the three examiners and the protocol’s content validity was adequate. The protocol is valid, applicable and practical for analyzing different requirements of electronic games in a virtual environment