Intervention-Induced Changes in Balance and Task-Dependent Neural Activity in Adults with Acquired Brain Injury: A...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) enables assessment of task-dependent brain activity.
• Acquired brain injury (ABI) populations can benefit from interventions targeting balance and neural activity.
• No prior studies have investigated yoga's impact on brain activity in ABI patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of an 8-week group yoga intervention versus a group exercise control on balance and task-dependent neural activity in adults with chronic ABI.
• To explore the feasibility of using mobile fNIRS for simultaneous neuroimaging and balance assessment.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study randomized 23 adults with chronic ABI into either a yoga (n=13) or exercise (n=10) group.
• Balance was measured using a force plate, and neural activity was recorded using a mobile fNIRS device before and after the 8-week interventions.
• Linear mixed-effects models analyzed changes in balance and neural activity over time and between groups.

Main Results:

• All participants demonstrated significant improvements in balance performance post-intervention, irrespective of the group.
• Task-dependent neural activity showed significant changes across all participants, with distinct patterns observed within each intervention group.
• Mobile fNIRS successfully captured simultaneous neuroimaging and balance data.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study provides preliminary evidence that both yoga and general exercise interventions can induce positive changes in balance and neural activity in adults with chronic ABI.
• The findings support the use of neuroimaging techniques like fNIRS in neurorehabilitation research for ABI.
• These results lay the groundwork for larger studies investigating targeted neurorehabilitation strategies.