Neurocognitive robot-assisted therapy of hand function.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Neurocognitive therapy, based on the Perfetti method, utilizes exercises targeting motor, sensory, and cognitive functions in neurologically impaired individuals.
• Haptic exploration and interaction with objects are key components of hand-focused neurocognitive exercises.
• Haptic devices offer controlled, reproducible conditions for delivering and assessing neurocognitive exercises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present three neurocognitive robot-assisted exercises developed for the ReHapticKnob hand rehabilitation robot.
• To evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of these exercises in patients with neurological disorders.
• To explore the use of objective performance data from robotic interaction for patient assessment.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of three neurocognitive exercises on the ReHapticKnob, a two-degrees-of-freedom hand rehabilitation robot.
• A pilot study involving five patients with diverse neurological disorders.
• Evaluation of feasibility and acceptance via subjective patient questionnaires.
• Objective assessment using force/torque and position measurements during virtual object exploration.

Main Results:

• All participating patients successfully engaged in the neurocognitive robot-assisted therapy.
• The therapy was well-received and accepted by the patients.
• Objective measurements provided insights into patients' motor strategies and task performance during haptic exploration.

Conclusions:

• Neurocognitive robot-assisted therapy is feasible and well-accepted in patients with neurological disorders.
• The integration of haptic feedback in robot-assisted rehabilitation enhances therapeutic approaches.
• This approach offers novel insights into sensorimotor impairment and recovery, with potential for objective patient assessment.