Development of robotic motor rehabilitation that facilitates implicit learning

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25702034
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Ushiba Junichi 慶應義塾大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (00383985)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ロボットリハビリテーション / 運動学習 / 上肢到達運動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study focused on the advantages of exoskeleton type robotic devices, i.e. precise controllability of kinematics/dynamics and possible accessibility to implicit motor learning process, and tested the feasibility of its application to arm motor rehabilitation to promote upper limb reaching movements. Gradual increment of force applied to one arm was first programmed, and tested its effects on decision making of arm choice and force exerted. The results showed implicit learning can be induced both in healthy and stroke patients with hemiplegia. The pilot study also showed feasibility that functional MRI and Volume based morphometry can detect associated cortical/sub-cortical areas that are used underlying such am implicit motor learning.
These study shows the feasibility of implicit learning by exoskeleton robotic intervention in arm motor rehabilitation.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学、神経科学、生体医工学