Functional Brain Imaging Before and After Tool-Use Training
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Major/Field of Study
Biomechanics
Advisor Information
Jorge M. Zuniga
Location
CEC RM #127
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
22-3-2024 2:30 PM
End Date
22-3-2024 3:45 PM
Abstract
Much research has been conducted to understand adaptations to tool usage, but relatively few studies have examined adaptations to tool usage in typically developing children for direct comparisons with individuals learning to use prostheses. The current study was designed to assess how typically developing children adapt to use of a prosthesis simulator over the course of eight weeks. The data was collected as part of a larger project seeking to understand how to improve prosthetic design and training paradigms.
fNIRS data was previously attained for fourteen typically developing subjects (ages 10.25 ± 2.5 years) before and after eight weeks while using a prosthesis simulator. The simulator was based on the Cyborg Beast body-powered prosthesis. As these data were compared to children with congenital limb deficiency, the proximal joint powering the simulator was either the wrist (n=10) or elbow (n=2). Half of the participants were led through a home-based intervention in which they practiced usage of the tool throughout the eight weeks. The remaining participants were only exposed to the tool before and after the eight weeks. These conditions were selected to differentiate between neural adaptations due to time or use. During these collections, participants completed a clinical assessment of gross motor dexterity (Box and Blocks test) while undergoing hemodynamic activity monitoring via functional near infrared spectroscopy. The results of analysis will be presented for the groups at both time points. Anticipated results will demonstrate increased efficiency in the group during tool usage following the training paradigm compared to the non-trained group.
This research is significant as it can be used to differentiate tool use adaptation based on training and from previous experience (non-trained group) and it involves functional analysis based on realistic unconstrained movements with a tool. This allows a better understanding of how children learn to use novel tools and how quickly associated neural adaptations may appear.
Functional Brain Imaging Before and After Tool-Use Training
CEC RM #127
Much research has been conducted to understand adaptations to tool usage, but relatively few studies have examined adaptations to tool usage in typically developing children for direct comparisons with individuals learning to use prostheses. The current study was designed to assess how typically developing children adapt to use of a prosthesis simulator over the course of eight weeks. The data was collected as part of a larger project seeking to understand how to improve prosthetic design and training paradigms.
fNIRS data was previously attained for fourteen typically developing subjects (ages 10.25 ± 2.5 years) before and after eight weeks while using a prosthesis simulator. The simulator was based on the Cyborg Beast body-powered prosthesis. As these data were compared to children with congenital limb deficiency, the proximal joint powering the simulator was either the wrist (n=10) or elbow (n=2). Half of the participants were led through a home-based intervention in which they practiced usage of the tool throughout the eight weeks. The remaining participants were only exposed to the tool before and after the eight weeks. These conditions were selected to differentiate between neural adaptations due to time or use. During these collections, participants completed a clinical assessment of gross motor dexterity (Box and Blocks test) while undergoing hemodynamic activity monitoring via functional near infrared spectroscopy. The results of analysis will be presented for the groups at both time points. Anticipated results will demonstrate increased efficiency in the group during tool usage following the training paradigm compared to the non-trained group.
This research is significant as it can be used to differentiate tool use adaptation based on training and from previous experience (non-trained group) and it involves functional analysis based on realistic unconstrained movements with a tool. This allows a better understanding of how children learn to use novel tools and how quickly associated neural adaptations may appear.