Visual and Tactile Scanning Training in Patients With Neglect After Stroke (ViTaTrain)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether 20 Sessions of 30 minutes with a visual and tactile scanning training in the personal, peripersonal and extrapersonal space combined with trunk rotation will be feasible and provide better results compared to 20 Sessions of 30 minutes of a standard visual scanning programme.

In patients with stroke, unilateral neglect is a predictor for poor independency and quality of life. Current therapies are lacking a progression of intensity based on clear criteria. In addition, therapies include rather analytical exercises and the transfer of the achieved functions to activities of daily living remains difficult. Therefore, the investigators developed a criterion based system, in which the investigators are matching interventions to specific neglect related deficits and behaviour. The investigators plan a randomised controlled trial (stage 2 "development of concept trial") to evaluate whether an Experimental Group with 20 Sessions of 30 minutes with a visual and tactile scanning training in the personal, peripersonal and extrapersonal space combined with trunk rotation or a Control Group with 20 Sessions of 30 minutes of a standard visual scanning programme results in larger improvements on the neglect behaviour during activities of daily life (Catherine Bergego Scale). Sixteen stroke patients with left side neglect (i.e. right brain lesions) will be recruited in an inpatient rehabilitations setting.

20 Sessions of 30 minutes with a visual and tactile scanning training in the personal, peripersonal and extrapersonal space combined with trunk rotation

20 Sessions of 30 minutes with a visual and tactile scanning training in the personal, peripersonal and extrapersonal space and trunk rotation. The intervention includes visual or tactile scanning training in three different spaces and will be individually adapted to the needs of the patients. Visual or tactile scanning in the personal space Visual or tactile scanning and trunk rotation in the peripersonal space Visual scanning and trunk rotation in the extrapersonal space

20 sessions of 30 minutes with traditional uni-modal visual scanning training in the peripersonal space.

Inclusion Criteria: First or second time right hemispheric stroke (haemorrhagic or ischaemic, diagnosed with computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) Time after last stroke: less than 8 weeks Hemispatial neglect with at least seven points on the Catherine Bergego Scale Right handed Exclusion Criteria: Reduced vision after rectification (i.e. corrected vision sufficient to read newspaper-sized print) Mini-Mental State Evaluation Score below 11 Not fluently speaking and understanding French or German language in order to understand the tasks and the assessments, as assessed and judged by the medical doctor and the staff.