studi e ricerche

Auditory Domain Sensitivity and Neuroplasticity-Based Targeted Cognitive Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sensory processing, along with the integration of external inputs into stable representations of the environment, is integral to social cognitive functioning; challenges in these processes have been reported in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) since the earliest descriptions of autism. Recently, neuroplasticity-based targeted cognitive training (TCT) has shown promise as an approach to improve functional impairments in clinical patients. However, few computerized and adaptive brain-based programs have been trialed in ASD. For individuals with sensory processing sensitivities (SPS), the inclusion of some auditory components in TCT protocols may be aversive. Thus, with the goal of developing a web-based, remotely accessible intervention

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18 Febbraio 2023

Virtual reality and well-being in older adults: Results from a pilot implementation of virtual reality in long-term care

Introduction: This paper describes the findings of a pilot implementation project that explored the potential of virtual reality (VR) technology in recreational programming to support the well-being of older adults in long-term care (LTC) homes. Methods: 32 Adults in four LTC homes participated in a pilot implementation project where they viewed VR experiences of popular locations in Canada created especially for this project. Data in this paper are based on multiple viewing experiences (n = 102) over a two-week period. Results: VR appeared to be an effective distraction from pain for the participants. Participants of this study found the VR

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13 Dicembre 2022

Effect of virtual reality exercise on interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s disease: A systematic review

Virtual reality (VR) interventions are increasingly being used in rehabilitating and treating patients with neurological disorders. This study aimed to explore the effects of VR exercise interventions for patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A systematic review of the published literature on randomized controlled trials of VR technology applied to patients with AD was conducted using the preferred reporting entry for systematic reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess the quality of the studies in terms of the characteristics of the included studies, samples, diagnoses, types of VR technologies, subjective and objective levels of immersion, and quality of

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9 Novembre 2022

Computational Thinking and Coding for Kids Training for Elementary School Teachers

Computational thinking and coding are thinking skills that are recently expected to be acquired by elementary school children as the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 requires students to be familiar with the use of technology. In some developed countries, the two skills have been included in elementary school curriculum. However, the situation is different in the context of Indonesia since teachers or instructors who are able to provide these skills are inadequate. Therefore, this training was intended to socialize and educate the application of coding and computational thinking, especially to elementary school teachers so that they have the ability

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5 Novembre 2022

An integrated intervention of computerized cognitive training and physical exercise in virtual reality for people with Alzheimer’s disease: The jDome study protocol

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by cognitive deficits, loss of daily functions, and mental and behavioral disorders, which cause stress and negatively affect the quality of life. Studies in the field suggest that combining cognitive training with physical activity can reduce the risk of developing the disease and, once neurodegeneration has begun, it slows its progress. In particular, virtual reality and augmented reality administer cognitive stimulation while providing a link to autobiographical memory through reminiscence, enabling the improvement of the person’s quality of life. The present protocol aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive and physical treatments, integrated

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12 Agosto 2022

Facial Emotions Are Accurately Encoded in the Neural Signal of Those With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Deep Learning Approach

Background Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit frequent behavioral deficits in facial emotion recognition (FER). It remains unknown whether these deficits arise because facial emotion information is not encoded in their neural signal or because it is encodes but fails to translate to FER behavior (deployment). This distinction has functional implications, including constraining when differences in social information processing occur in ASD, and guiding interventions (i.e., developing prosthetic FER vs. reinforcing existing skills). Methods We utilized a discriminative and contemporary machine learning approach—deep convolutional neural networks—to classify facial emotions viewed by individuals with and without ASD (N = 88) from concurrently recorded electroencephalography signals. Results The convolutional neural

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18 Luglio 2022

Enhance VR: A Multisensory Approach to Cognitive Training and Monitoring

Cognitive training systems aim to improve specific domains or global cognition by engaging users in cognitively demanding tasks. While screen-based applications can improve performance in the trained cognitive abilities, they are often criticized for their poor transferability to activities of daily living. These systems, however, exclude the user’s body and motor skills, which invariably serves to restrict the user experience. Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) systems, in contrast, present the user with body-related information, such as proprioceptive and visuomotor information, allowing for an immersive and embodied experience of the environment. This feature renders VR a very appealing tool for cognitive training

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3 Giugno 2022

Applications of Virtual Reality for Autism Inclusion. A review

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder present several difficulties in social interaction, communication obstaclesand restricted and repeated behaviors. Social connection with others is typically challenging for them, and they are frequentlyunsure of how to react to other people’s emotions, facial expressions, and movements of their body, and especially of how torespond to various social circumstances. Recent review studies regarding VR for children with ASD have found that most ofthe relevant interventions aimed at improving social and emotional skills, as well as common activities of everyday life. In thiswork, we are going to present studies of the most current applications of VR

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5 Maggio 2022

Cognitive Training with Neurofeedback Using NIRS Improved Cognitive Functions in Young Adults: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial

(1) Background: A previous study has shown that cognitive training with neurofeedback (CT-NF) using down-regulation improves cognitive functions in young adults. Neurofeedback has two strategies for manipulating brain activity (down-regulation and upregulation). However, the benefit of CT-NF with the upregulation of cognitive functions is still unknown. In this study, we investigated whether the upregulation of CT-NF improves a wide range of cognitive functions compared to cognitive training alone. (2) Methods: In this double-blinded randomized control trial (RCT), 60 young adults were randomly assigned to one of three groups: CT-NF group, CT alone group, and an active control (ACT) group who

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14 Febbraio 2022

Fundamental relationships of executive functions and physiological abilities with game intelligence, game time and injuries in elite soccer players

The study examined the (1) interrelation of cognitive-athletic performance concerning game time and (2) injuries; (3) relation between executive functions and game intelligence. A total of 172 elite soccer players (age: 12–34 years) performed tests assessing multiple-object-tracking, working memory capacity (WMC), cognitive flexibility (CF), and inhibition. General and specific-endurance-performance, and physical performance (jumps and sprint) were also measured. Game intelligence, time and injuries were tracked. WMC, CF, and a total cognition score showed correlations with game intelligence, and the same parameter, along with selective attention and game intelligence were also correlated with game time. Sprint and specific-endurance were connected with game

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14 Ottobre 2021

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