An Applicative On-line EEG Tool for Enhancing Treatment Efficacy

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a simple and easy to use tool that can extract relevant attention-related markers - Brain Engagement Index (BEI) from ongoing EEG. During standard rehabilitative physical therapy sessions.

This research aims at assessing and fine tuning the effectiveness of a unique tool for online guidance of neural rehabilitation. The tool monitors patient attention level and guides the therapist online regarding the effectiveness of the current exercise employed. It is well established that maintaining a high level of attention plays a major role in the clinical outcome in rehabilitation. The monitoring is achieved using a cheap and simple to use EEG system and a breakthrough signal processing algorithm. The feedback provides the caregiver and patient with online information regarding the effectiveness of attention recruited during a given exercise. Furthermore, the investigators are developing and fine-tuning a set of guidelines to attain optimal attention levels. These guide lines include : Choosing an appropriate goal/movement for each patient; Regulating the optimal degree of effort by changing the difficulty level of the exercise, changing the exercise or suggesting a short rest period; Integrating supportive exercises such as stretches, strengthening of stabilizers normalization of muscle tone, sensory stimulation etc. which may enhance the performance of the target goal/movement; Motivating patients to exert more effort; And taking advantage of the quality control aspect of the BEI index in-order to augment attention of both therapist and patient.

Standard physical therapy rehabilitation is administered to stroke patients. Attention level of the patient gathered with an EEG tool is measured, and provided to both therapist and patient on-line during one of the two treatments.

Standard physical therapy rehabilitation is administered to stroke patients. Attention level of the patient gathered with an EEG tool is measured but feedback is not provided.

Change in performance between pre & post treatment, will be assessed twice, in the feedback session and non-feedback session. Each participant will be assessed twice within two weeks from recruitment to the study.

scale from zero to one, the time in which the measure excedes a predefined threshhold level during tretment

During the whole treatment session, each participant will be assessed twice within two weeks from recruitment to the study.

Scale from 1 to 3, the average of effectiveness evaluations for all the treatments in each session was used as the session effectiveness index

Through treatment sessions, each participant will be assessed twice within two weeks from recruitment to the study.

Bartur G, Joubran K, Peleg-Shani S, Vatine JJ, Shahaf G. An EEG Tool for Monitoring Patient Engagement during Stroke Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:9071568. doi: 10.1155/2017/9071568. Epub 2017 Sep 24.