1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Mirror neurons and limb mirroring
Parameter values
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {{\alpha _{{{\text{LL}}}} }} & {{\alpha _{{{\text{RL}}}} }} & {{\beta _{{{\text{LL}}}} }} & {{\beta _{{{\text{RL}}}} }} \\ {{\alpha _{{{\text{LR}}}} }} & {{\alpha _{{{\text{RR}}}} }} & {{\beta _{{{\text{LR}}}} }} & {{\beta _{{{\text{RR}}}} }} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Short name | Description | Application time |
---|---|---|---|
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1} & {0} & {1} & {0} \\ {0} & {1} & {0} & {1} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Normal | Normal 1:1 limb mapping | Sub-acute to chronic |
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1} & {0} & {1} & {0} \\ {1} & {0} & {1} & {0} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Follow left | Left limb controls movements of virtual right limb | Acute |
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1} & {0} & {1} & {0} \\ {0} & {{ - 1}} & {0} & {{ - 1}} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Mirror left | Left limb controls virtual right limb, movements mirrored about center line | Acute |
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {2} & {0} & {3} & {0} \\ {0} & {2} & {0} & {3} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Boost | Virtual left/right arms move twice as far as real limbs; left/right fingers move three times as far as real fingers | Sub-acute |
\( {\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {1} & {0} & {1} & {0} \\ {0} & {0} & {0} & {0} \\ \end{array} } \right]} \)
| Constraint-induced therapy | Sub-acute to chronic |
2 Virtual reality visuo-motor therapy system
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Hitting: the patient must intercept virtual balls moving along the table towards him/her. Adjustable parameters are: ball speed, interval between successive balls, lateral left/right dispersion of ball start positions and the probability distribution of the ball start positions.
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Catching: as for Hitting, with the additional constraint that the patient must “catch” the balls by holding the relevant hand open for the ball intercept and closing it within a certain interval after the ball has been intercepted; otherwise it is registered as a “drop”. Additional parameters specify the time within which patients must close their hands to register a “catch” event.
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Grasping: as for Catching, but after catching the ball the patient must move the ball to a movable target location and then release it. Partial success in each phase (intercept, catch, release) scores partial points.