Clinical Research Directory

Strategy Training for Optimizing Attention for Individuals With Spatial Neglect

It is common for individuals after stroke to have a cognitive perceptual impairment called unilateral spatial neglect (neglect). Individuals with neglect have difficulty paying attention to one side of their body or one side of the environment and therefore experience difficulty performing daily activities. There are a lack of effective treatments for neglect and new interventions are needed to help reduce disability for these individuals. Metacognitive strategy training (strategy training) is an intervention that has the potential to reduce neglect-related disability and improve individuals' attention and awareness of their neglect. This study seeks to examine the effects of strategy training on neglect, self-awareness, and disability, specifically for individuals who are living in the community after their stroke.

Motor Imaging, Neglect, and Upper Extremity Function in Stroke

This study aims to investigate the relationship between motor imagery skills and neglect level, upper extremity motor function, activities of daily living, quality of life, lateralization performance, and mental timer performance in individuals with stroke. Individuals with stroke who meet the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agree to participate will be evaluated. Demographic and clinical information of the participants will be recorded on an assessment form prepared by the researcher. Upper extremity motor functions will be assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Assessment Scale and the Wolf Motor Function Test; activities of daily living will be assessed using the Modified Barthel Index; and quality of life will be assessed using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale. Motor imagery skills will be measured using the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire and a mental timer task; upper extremity lateralization performance will be assessed using the Recognise™ application. Neglect level will be assessed using the Catherine Bergego Scale, the Line Splitting Test, and the Star Erase Test. The data obtained will be statistically analyzed to examine the relationships between motor imagery skills and other clinical variables.

Effectiveness of an Interactive Screen in the Rehabilitation of Neglect in Adults With Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Argentina.

Hemispatial neglect is one of the most frequent and disabling sequelae after a stroke, particularly following right-hemisphere lesions. Its prevalence ranges from 25% to 80% and is associated with poorer functional outcomes, increased risk of falls, prolonged hospital stays, and lower rates of discharge to home. In response to these challenges, rehabilitation technologies have emerged as promising tools, especially during the subacute phase of stroke, a critical period for neuroplasticity. The MYRO® device-an adjustable interactive screen that enables intensive, task-oriented training-has shown benefits in promoting visual scanning, midline crossing, and sensorimotor integration through personalized exercises with constant feedback. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MYRO® combined with conventional occupational therapy in patients with left hemispatial neglect secondary to subacute stroke. A randomized clinical trial will be conducted with 30 participants assigned to two groups: conventional occupational therapy (OT-C) and occupational therapy plus rehabilitation technology using MYRO® (OT-M). Both groups will receive interventions for four weeks, with assessments at baseline, at the end of the protocol, and at a six-week follow-up. Outcome measures will include the NIHSS, FIM, Catherine Bergego Scale, Cancelation Bells Test, and Line Bisection Test. It is expected that the use of MYRO® will enhance visuospatial attention toward the left hemifield and accelerate functional recovery compared with conventional treatment alone. The results could provide relevant evidence supporting the integration of interactive technology into neurofunctional rehabilitation within the Argentine context.

Mixed-Reality Visual Attention Task for Neglect Diagnosis and Rehabilitation

Neglect, a common and disabling neurological deficit post-CNS injury, profoundly hinders recovery and escalates healthcare costs. Current diagnostic tools are often insensitive or impractical, and while therapies exist, a significant research gap remains. Traditional methods, including standardized scales and paper-pencil tests, lack precision; even advanced video oculography is limited by cost and accessibility. Rehabilitative approaches like visual scanning and prism adaptation offer some benefit, but more effective solutions are needed. This project utilizes a non-invasive neuromodulatory training approach via a mixed-reality visual attention task delivered through a virtual reality headset. This system aims to improve both neglect diagnosis and personalized therapeutic intervention. The study will assess the headset's safety and practicality, its capacity to detect and lateralize neglect, and its long-term effect on improving attention to the neglected field. By measuring reaction times to visual stimuli within the VR environment, the research seeks to develop a more accessible and impactful tool for both assessing and treating neglect, potentially enabling self-directed therapy and enhancing patient outcomes.

Implementation of IVS3 for Upper Limb Motor Recovery

This study measures participant satisfaction and upper extremity function in outpatients with chronic stroke when exposed to the IVS3 device. Investigators hypothesize that treatment with the IVS3 device will be feasible and tolerable for use in the outpatient setting.

Assessment and Treat Neglect Patients With a VR Application

The objective of this project is to investigate the effectiveness of neglect training in our self-developed VR application "SpatialSense". The investigators aim to reach the following goals: i. Compare conventional neglect therapy for neglect training with SpatialSense to evaluate the impacts on neglect recovery to see whether the VR therapy improves the clinical outcomes, such as balance recovery, perception of verticality, quality of life, independence in daily activities, and cognitive impairment, after rehabilitation training. ii. Analyze and compare the search strategies employed by stroke patients with VSN and those without VSN during the execution of the search task with SpatialSense to summarize typical visual scanning strategies for facilitation, rehabilitation training, and improving the transfer effect in daily activities. The experimental group will receive both conventional OT and PT treatment, but 3 days a week, half an hour of conventional treatment will be replaced by treatment with SpatialSense software. The control group will receive their regular dose-matched conventional OT and PT sessions without interference. The experimental group will receive SpatialSense training 3 times a week for a consecutive 4 weeks (12 sessions in total of 30 minutes).

Improving Awareness for Spatial Neglect With tDCS

Brain-damaged patients can show severe neurological and cognitive deficits, and yet often remain strikingly unaware of these symptoms: this condition is called anosognosia. The aim of this study is to improve awareness in right-brain-damaged patients with Unilateral Spatial Neglect (USN) following stroke using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS is a neuromodulatory technique that delivers low-intensity current to the brain facilitating (anodal tDCS) or inhibiting (cathodal tDCS) spontaneous neuronal activity. tDCS does not induce activity in resting neuronal networks, but modulates spontaneous neuronal activity: consequently, the amount and direction of effects critically depend on the previous state of the neural structures. We will test USN patients showing anosognosia for neglect symptoms. Different brain areas will be stimulated, to target explicit and implicit components of anosognosia, including parietal and frontal brain regions.

Robotic rEhabilitation sCenario fOr patieNts With NeglECT

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to develop an integrated motor and cognitive rehabilitation program and evaluate the usability and acceptability of a new virtual reality scenario designed for the MOTORE device. This study will focus on the rehabilitation of the upper limbs in post-stroke patients with plegia and left-sided hemi-inattention. The main questions it aims to answer are: * The evaluation of the usability and acceptability of the newly developed scenario * The evaluation of the effects of the new scenario on patients' hemi-inattention * The evaluation of changes in upper limb functional parameters Participants will undergo a total of 13 rehabilitation sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, using the new scenario, including an initial and final assessment.