Article

Sensory perception is crucial for motor learning and the control of fine
manipulations. However, therapy after stroke still strongly focuses on the
training of motor skills. Sensory assessments are often left out or provide only
very subjective data from poorly controlled stimuli.
This paper presents a
vibration detection/localization test with the Robotic Sensory Trainer, a device
that focuses entirely on the assessment and training of sensory function of the
hand, with the aim of gaining insights into the prevalence and severity of
sensory deficits after stroke, and to provide semiobjective data on absolute and
difference perception thresholds in patients. An initial feasibility study
investigated localization performance and reaction time during the discrimination
of vibration stimuli presented in four locations on the dominant and nondominant
hands of 13 healthy volunteers. High correct detection rates were observed (mean
+/- SD of 99.6% +/- 0.6%), touch screen PC Robotic Sensory Trainer which were
found to be significantly different between stimulus locations on the dominant
hand. Average correct detection rates were not statistically different between
dominant and nondominant hand. These data will serve as baseline for future
measurements on elderly and stroke subjects, and suggest that data from the
nonimpaired hand could be used to identify and assess sensory deficits in the
affected hand of stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS