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Visual Scanning Training for Neglect after Stroke with and without a Computerized Lane Tracking Dual Task.
M E van Kessel1, A C H Geurts, W H Brouwer
1Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen , Nijmegen , Netherlands ; Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital Group , Enschede , Netherlands.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|July 13, 2013
Summary
This study investigated adding dual task training to visual scanning training for stroke patients with neglect. Results showed improvements in both groups, but dual task training did not offer additional benefits over standard visual scanning training alone.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Neuroscience
Background:
- Unilateral neglect, common after right hemisphere stroke, impairs contralesional spatial attention.
- Visual scanning training (VST) aims to improve attention to neglected space.
- Combining VST with non-spatial attention training may enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of adding a dual task training component to VST for stroke-related neglect.
- To assess if dual task training enhances improvements in visual scanning and driving simulator performance.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-nine subacute right hemisphere stroke patients were assigned to an experimental (VST + dual task) or control (VST only) group.
- Training involved 30 sessions over 6 weeks, including standardized VST tasks and a driving simulator.
- The experimental group integrated a dual task (digit detection + lane tracking) in later training weeks.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant improvements on most assessment tasks after training.
- No significant additional benefits were observed for the dual task training group compared to the control group.
- Improvements were not consistently correlated with time post-onset; spontaneous recovery and learning effects were potential confounds.
Conclusions:
- Standard visual scanning training (VST) improves neglect symptoms in stroke patients.
- The addition of dual task training, as implemented, did not provide superior benefits over VST alone.
- Future research should explore variations in dual task training intensity, difficulty, and its impact on daily functioning.
