Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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The objective of this study was to develop a novel quantitative multichannel EEG (qEEG) based analysis method, called Global Field Damping Time (GFDT), in order to detect potential EEG changes of patients admitted to the ICU with acute respiratory failure, and correlate them to the patients' recovery outcome predicting the optimal time-point to disconnect the patient from mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Quantitative EEG seems to be an important tool for ICU clinicians assisting them to decide for the patients' optimal time-point to disconnect the patient from the ventilator.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS): a tool for double-blind sham-controlled clinical studies in brain stimulation.
Brain polarization in the form of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which influences motor function and learning processes, has been proposed as an adjuvant strategy to enhance training effects in Neurorehabilitation. Proper testing in Neurorehabilitation requires double-blind sham-controlled study designs. Here, we evaluated the effects of tDCS and sham stimulation (SHAM) on healthy subjects and stroke patients' self-report measures of attention, fatigue, duration of elicited sensations and discomfort. ⋯ tDCS could evolve into a useful tool, in addition to TMS, to modulate cortical activity in Neurorehabilitation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An endurance-strength training regime is effective in reducing myoelectric manifestations of cervical flexor muscle fatigue in females with chronic neck pain.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an endurance-strength training program is effective in reducing myoelectric manifestations of sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS) muscle fatigue which have been found to be greater in people with chronic neck pain. ⋯ Provision of load to challenge the neck flexor muscles is required to reduce the fatigability of the SCM and AS muscles in people with neck pain. Improvements in cervical muscle strength and reduced fatigability may be responsible for the reported efficacy with this type of exercise program.
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Low amplitude vibration of forearm or hand muscles predominantly activates proprioceptive inputs that influence corticospinal projections in a focal manner, increasing output to the stimulated muscle while reducing output to neighbouring muscles. Modulation of contralateral forearm muscles by vibration has also been reported on one occasion. The aim of the current investigation was to investigate the effects of proprioceptive input from a hand muscle on corticospinal excitability, intracortical inhibition (SICI) and interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) targeting the homologous contralateral muscle. ⋯ These results suggest that sensory input can modulate excitability in both motor cortices simultaneously, as well as the relationship between them. Interventions which modulate this transcallosal relationship may become useful in disorders where abnormal IHI is a potential therapeutic target.
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To compare spectral and complexity characteristics of the EEG in a unique case of subcortical infarct to those seen in healthy controls. ⋯ Complexity indices of the EEG are sensitive complementary measures of electrophysiological changes caused by local lesions such as subcortical stroke.