Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study evaluated the effects of a tactile-discrimination compensatory real-time feedback device on hand sensorimotor function in cervical spinal cord injury patients. The study assessed changes in hand numbness, dexterity, and electroencephalogram (EEG)...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Ken Kitai Kaichi Nishigaya Yasuhisa Mizomoto Hiroki Ito Ryosuke Yamauchi Osamu Katayama Kiichiro Morita Shin Murata Takayuki Kodama |
| author_facet | Ken Kitai Kaichi Nishigaya Yasuhisa Mizomoto Hiroki Ito Ryosuke Yamauchi Osamu Katayama Kiichiro Morita Shin Murata Takayuki Kodama |
| author_sort | Ken Kitai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study evaluated the effects of a tactile-discrimination compensatory real-time feedback device on hand sensorimotor function in cervical spinal cord injury patients. The study assessed changes in hand numbness, dexterity, and electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, particularly γ-wave power in the sensorimotor area during skilled finger movements. <b>Methods</b>: Three patients with cervical spinal cord injury who presented with hand sensorimotor dysfunction underwent treatment with this device. All cases underwent the intervention using an AB design; A is the exercise task without the system device, and B is the exercise task under the system device. To confirm the reproducibility and minimize the influence of confounding factors, a multiple-baseline design, in which the intervention period was staggered for each subject, was applied. To determine efficacy, the hand numbness numerical rating scale, peg test, and EEG were measured daily, and Tau-U calculations were performed. <b>Results</b>: In two of three cases, moderate or very large changes were observed in numbness in B. In all cases, there was a large or very large change in the peg test results in the B. Regarding EEG activity, the non-skilled participants showed amplification of γ-wave power in the sensorimotor area during the B. Conversely, in the skilled participants, the γ-wave power of the sensorimotor area was attenuated during skillful movements. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that the ability of the brain to compare and align predictive control with sensory feedback might be compromised in patients with damage to the afferent pathways of the central nervous system. Moreover, the use of this device appears to have played a role in supporting functional recovery. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-ddd222a4a4cb4db3afacea1bf9ce1e3f2025-08-20T02:28:27ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-03-0115435210.3390/brainsci15040352Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline DesignKen Kitai0Kaichi Nishigaya1Yasuhisa Mizomoto2Hiroki Ito3Ryosuke Yamauchi4Osamu Katayama5Kiichiro Morita6Shin Murata7Takayuki Kodama8Rehabilitation Department, Maizuru Red Cross Hospital, Maizuru City 624-0906, Kyoto, JapanRehabilitation Department, Zenjokai Rehabilitation Hospital, Nagoya City 457-0046, Aichi, JapanRehabilitation Department, Watanabe Hospital, Chita 470-3235, Aichi, JapanGraduate School of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanGraduate School of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu City 474-8511, Aichi, JapanCognitive and Molecular Research Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University, Kurume 830-0011, Fukuoka, JapanGraduate School of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto City 607-8175, Kyoto, JapanGraduate School of Health Sciences, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto City 607-8175, Kyoto, Japan<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study evaluated the effects of a tactile-discrimination compensatory real-time feedback device on hand sensorimotor function in cervical spinal cord injury patients. The study assessed changes in hand numbness, dexterity, and electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, particularly γ-wave power in the sensorimotor area during skilled finger movements. <b>Methods</b>: Three patients with cervical spinal cord injury who presented with hand sensorimotor dysfunction underwent treatment with this device. All cases underwent the intervention using an AB design; A is the exercise task without the system device, and B is the exercise task under the system device. To confirm the reproducibility and minimize the influence of confounding factors, a multiple-baseline design, in which the intervention period was staggered for each subject, was applied. To determine efficacy, the hand numbness numerical rating scale, peg test, and EEG were measured daily, and Tau-U calculations were performed. <b>Results</b>: In two of three cases, moderate or very large changes were observed in numbness in B. In all cases, there was a large or very large change in the peg test results in the B. Regarding EEG activity, the non-skilled participants showed amplification of γ-wave power in the sensorimotor area during the B. Conversely, in the skilled participants, the γ-wave power of the sensorimotor area was attenuated during skillful movements. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings indicate that the ability of the brain to compare and align predictive control with sensory feedback might be compromised in patients with damage to the afferent pathways of the central nervous system. Moreover, the use of this device appears to have played a role in supporting functional recovery.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/4/352cervical spinal cord injuryhand sensorimotor dysfunctiontactile discrimination compensatory real-time feedback devicemultiple-baseline design |
| spellingShingle | Ken Kitai Kaichi Nishigaya Yasuhisa Mizomoto Hiroki Ito Ryosuke Yamauchi Osamu Katayama Kiichiro Morita Shin Murata Takayuki Kodama Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design Brain Sciences cervical spinal cord injury hand sensorimotor dysfunction tactile discrimination compensatory real-time feedback device multiple-baseline design |
| title | Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design |
| title_full | Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design |
| title_short | Enhancing Hand Sensorimotor Function in Individuals with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Novel Tactile Discrimination Feedback Approach Using a Multiple-Baseline Design |
| title_sort | enhancing hand sensorimotor function in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury a novel tactile discrimination feedback approach using a multiple baseline design |
| topic | cervical spinal cord injury hand sensorimotor dysfunction tactile discrimination compensatory real-time feedback device multiple-baseline design |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/4/352 |
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