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Abstract:
A significant improvement has already been found on separate
measures of hemispatial neglect following brief visuomotor feedback
training (VFT) (Robertson et al., 1997). In the current study we
test the rehabilitative potential of VFT by extending the period of
training and the number of assessments given. 11 patients (in
progress) showing clinically significant neglect were tested at
intake, after 14 days rehabilitation and one month later. Based on
Robertson's et al (1997) paradigm, both groups received the same
motoric experience of reaching and lifting rods presented in
different spatial locations. The intervention group, however, had
to attend specifically to both ends of a rod to locate its centre,
whilst the control group attended to just one end. The results
reveal that the intervention group significantly improved over time
on a line bisection task and on an abbreviated form of the Test of
Everyday Attention in contrast to the controls. The VFT appears to
improve performance on a specific intervention related task as well
as on a generalised test of attentional capacity. Furthermore,
improvements are not only found immediately after the intervention
but at one month after VFT so effects are not short lived.
Robertson IH, Nico D, Hood BM (1997). Believing what you feel:
using proprioceptive feedback to reduce unilateral neglect.
Neuropsychology, 11(1), 53-58.
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