Motivating Rehabilitation by Distorting Reality

BioRob 2006 The first IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics Pisa, Tuscany, Italy February 20-22, 2006

James Patton, Yejun Wei, & Chris Scharver

Sensory Motor Performance Program

(SMPP)

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois USA 60611

 j-patton@northwestern.edu

Robert V. Kenyon

Electronic Visualization Laboratory

(EVL)

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, USA

 Robert Scheidt

Dept. of Biomedical Engineering

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

 

 

Abstract – We have found, through a series of recent experiments, encouraging evidence that the neuromotor system is motivated to change motor patterns when exposed to visuo-motor tasks. We have also shown that the learning of these tasks can be heightened with forces and/or visual distortions that appropriately manipulate the error. This process does not require intense concentration and it is often considered a game. We describe the next generation of robotic large-workspace, three dimensional haptics/graphics systems for rehabilitation.

Index Terms – learning, adaptation, rehabilitation, human, stroke.

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