Abstract
This column will try to describe the characteristics of current cyberpsychology research in Europe. In particular, CyberEurope aims at describing the leading research groups and projects running on the other side of the Ocean.
A
Gait and postural control impairments and falls are ubiquitous among the elderly, and lead to enormous personal, occupational, and healthcare burden. In particular, patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are severely affected by the progressive deterioration of these gait and postural control mechanisms. Elucidating mechanisms of age- and disease-related motor control impairments and devising focused treatment strategies to counteract these symptoms represent major challenges for future research.
Role of Supraspinal Motor Centers
Various parts of the brain, collectively called the supraspinal motor centers, cooperate to control movement and locomotion. Aging and neurodegenerative conditions such as PD damage the motor centers, yet in ways not fully understood.
The EU-funded MOVING BEYOND project—industrial academic initial training network toward focused treatment of age-related motor symptoms (
The results of the research helped improve understanding of supraspinal motor control. Specifically, the work yielded a basic model of supraspinal control mechanisms. Researchers achieved the result by examining how age and PD affect probabilistic task cueing. This phase of the study involved determining the mechanistic regulation of gait dynamics during aging. Additionally, MOVING BEYOND gained an evolutionary perspective by investigating functional motor control in the primitive lamprey fish.
Outcomes of the Project
Other developments included improvements to diagnosis of supraspinal movement control deficits via a study of patients' walking ability. The team analyzed gaits using body sensors and from daily living, which revealed preclinical and progression parameters for PD. The analysis predicted risk of falling and assessed quality of life for PD patients.
The team also developed and analyzed several new treatments for supraspinal movement control deficits, including freezing of gait in PD patients. Researchers developed, implemented, and validated a novel algorithm for the gait robot Lokomat. The algorithm, which includes computerized visual feedback, assesses gait ability in patients with mild to severe walking impairments. The algorithm automatically adjusts support provided by the robot, based on patient performance during walking.
Finally, researchers assessed the potential of using virtual reality for research.
MOVING BEYOND has disseminated its findings via conferences, scientific publications, and the project Web site. Staff have presented the developments to a lay audience during outreach events.
The project's training program has helped develop a group of young and innovative researchers able to contribute new therapeutic ideas. The resulting new diagnostic methods will help improve treatments.