Motor deficits are debilitating in that they affect everyday function in human beings (Zillmer & Spiers, 2001). Cerebral Palsy (CP) is one particular disorder that is primary characterised by motor deficits, more specifically gross motor function deficits. As a result, people with CP are restricted in their everyday function and lack independence and self-sufficiency. With other factors such as stigmatisation and prejudice, social participation becomes limited which leads to isolation and loneliness, which may further lead to psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, low self esteem and poor quality of life. These assumptions are based on the application of the mental health model, and one could assume the poorer the level of functioning the more likely a person’s psychological well-being will suffer. Thus, the study attempted to investigate these assumptions by exploring the relationship between levels of gross motor function and psychological well-being. A sample of 43 participants based in a care centre in Johannesburg completed a demographic questionnaire, the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), The Becks Anxiety Inventory (BAI), The Rosenburg Self Esteem Scale (RSE) and the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale (COMQOL – A5). In addition, through observation, the level of gross motor function was determined by utilising the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The data that was gathered and was statistically manipulated to explore three main questions. Before the relationship between gross motor function and psychological well-being could be explored it was necessary to examine the suitability of the use of psychological measure on an adult with CP sample. Results indicated that the MDI (r = 0.78), BAI (r = 0.76). RSE (0.77), and COMQOL (r = 0.99) had high internal constancy reliability. The relationship between demographical variables, namely, age, gender, years of residency, experience of motor deterioration and presence of epilepsy, were tested against the level of gross motor function. No significant results were found apart from motor PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.softwarelabs.com 4 deterioration. More participants with a higher level of gross motor function experienced motor deterioration (77%) than those with a lower level of gross motor function (44%). Lastly, the relationship between psychological variables and gross motor function was investigated as well as difference between the levels. Correlations revealed very weak positive relationships, with the exception of depression having a very weak negative relationship. All relationship were non significant. Although slight differences were seen between levels, they were non significant. 7% of participants were diagnosed with depressive disorders, and 47% with anxiety disorders. Problems with certain questions pertaining to the BAI raised concerns over the suitability of its use in CP adult samples. The study concluded that psychological measures, excluding the BAI, were suitable for use on a sample of adults with CP. It also highlighted that the level of motor functioning is not related to or determines psychological well-being in adults with CP. PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.softwarelabs.com

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Functional electrical stimulation (FES) techniques may be used to restore motor function lost or impaired through spinal cord injury. In order to use these techniques to restore complex tasks such as walking, it is necessary to provide sensory feedback to regulate the output of the FES controller. It has been suggested that multi-microelectrode probes (microprobes) implanted into the peripheral nervous system can be used to detect signals originating from the body's own sensors. These signals could be decoded and used to regulate the output of the FES controller. Prior to the present work, however, microprobes had primary been used to study neural activity in the brain, not peripheral nerves. In the present work, locust peripheral nerve has been used as an animal model for experimental and computer modelling work. The experimental work was directed at discerning the detail of information that can be obtained using microprobes to record from peripheral nerves (ie, the selectivity of the probes). In the computer modelling work, the effects of filtering the recorded signal were studied using an electrical circuit simulator programme (SPICE). Finite element analysis software (ANSYS) was used to model the electrical potential distribution in the nerve trunk, and to determine the effects of the probe substrate on the recorded signal. The results of the experimental work indicated that it may be possible to achieve higher selectivity in recording with microprobes than predicted by some models. It is concluded that future models need to represent the situation in greater detail in order to make more realistic predictions regarding the practical work. This will require further data on the electrical properties of the structures modelled within the nerve trunk. The SPICE modelling work successfully predicted the shape of the neural signals that would be recorded in the practical work. The partial differentiating effect of high pass filtering neural signals was also demonstrated. The results of the finite element modelling work demonstrated that the probe substrate would be expected to amplify signals from fibres directly in front of it, and attenuate signals from fibres behind it. This was shown to be significant for probe substrates with dimensions much smaller than the longitudinal spread of the action potential along the fibre. It was also found that these effects can be influenced by the position of the microprobe substrate relative to other structures within the nerve trunk; not just relative to the fibre. The significance of these results as they relate to mammalian nerve is discussed. Improved experimentation techniques and models are outlined, based on the results of this work. These include the requirement for improved facilities to determine the limits of selectivity in recording from peripheral nerves, and also the inclusion of inhomogeneities in models of the nerve trunk to make more realistic predictions regarding practical work. Finally, the development of active probes is discussed, including requirements for particularly novel circuitry, and the integration of many devices into a system to control FES.

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ABSTRACT Background: Neck pain may influence jaw motor function. If so it would add to a growing body of evidence indicating the need for a more multidisciplinary care of affected patients. The aim of this systematic review was to review the current literature on this subject. Methods: A systematic literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science databases was carried out on September 20th, 2017. Included were studies with jaw motor function measurements, human participants ≥ 16 years old, with unspecified or experimental neck pain and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or tooth pain. Results: Of the 1701 initially identified articles, 32 were assessed in full text by two reviewers. Out of seven eligible articles, six were included after a risk of bias assessment. Two studies were contradictory on the effect of neck pain on maximal mouth opening. For maximal voluntary jaw clenching by individuals with/without neck pain, two studies showed no significant difference in force produced, and one study no significant difference in masseter muscle activity. One study showed a facilitated masseter stretch reflex in patients with neck pain. Conclusion: This systematic review shows how unexplored this field of research still is with a limited number of studies available. No firm conclusions could be drawn. Based on the included studies, neck pain seems to affect the jaw stretch reflex, but not the ability of the jaw muscles to produce force. Further research is warranted in the field of how neck pain may influence jaw motor function.

abstract: Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States (US). Assisted Cycling Therapy (ACT) incorporates the use of an electric motor to enhance the rotations per minute (rpm). ACT of about 80 rpm, has been associated with improvements in motor, cognitive, and clinical function. The acute effects of ACT on motor and cognitive function of persons with stroke induced deficits have not been investigated. Purpose: To compare the acute effects of ACT, voluntary cycling (VC), and no cycling (NC) on upper and lower extremity motor function and executive function in adults with chronic stroke (age: 60 ± 16 years; months since stroke: 96 ± 85). Methods: Twenty-two participants (gender: female = 6, male = 16; types: ischemic = 12, hemorrhagic = 10; sides: left lesion = 15, right lesion = 7) completed one session of ACT, one session of VC and one session of NC on separate days using a 3 x 3 crossover design. Results: ACT lead to greater improvements in lower and upper extremity function on the paretic and non-paretic side than VC or NC (all p < 0.05), except in the non-paretic lower extremity where ACT and VC produced similar improvement (both p < 0.05). ACT and VC, but not NC, were associated with improvements in inhibition (p < 0.05). A positive relationship between cadence and motor function (P < 0.05) was found. Ratings of perceived exertion shared an inverted-U shaped relationship with measures of processing speed (p < 0.05) and a negative linear relationship with measures of executive function (p < 0.05). Conclusion: ACT appears to benefit paretic and non-paretic motor function globally whereas the benefits of VC are more task specific. Faster cycling cadence was associated with greater improvements in global motor function. ACT and VC seem to carry similar acute benefits in inhibition. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness 2017

The purpose of the present study is to try to establish if perception is a determinate factor of performance on the Bender Gestalt Test. In a study which is attempting to determine the effects of perceptual factors as compared to motor factors on the Bender Gestalt Test, it would seem necessary to separate the two factors.

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Associative plasticity, which involves modification of synaptic strength by coactivation of two synaptic inputs, has been demonstrated in many species. Here I explore whether it is possible to induce associative plasticity within a corticocortical pathway in the human brain using a novel protocol that activates two brain areas repeatedly with double-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The pathway between ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex (M1) which computes hand movements for precision grasp was manipulated. First, I selectively potentiated physiological connectivity between the stimulated brain areas. The effects as assessed with paired-pulse TMS were in accordance with principles of spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), pathwayspecific and showed a different pattern of expression during rest and during performance of a naturalistic prehension task. Furthermore, I demonstrated that effects evolved rapidly, lasted for up to three hours and were reversible. In a follow-up study, the protocol‘s effects on network interactions were investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), specifically focussing on functional connectivity of network nodes within the wider parietofrontal circuit controlling reaching-and-grasping. The study demonstrated that functional connectivity was causally modified between stimulated nodes and that those changes in coupling also affected parallel, functionally-related pathways. Comparison of neurophysiological (paired-pulse TMS) and functional (fMRI) connectivity between individuals revealed a linear relationship of these connectivity indices; the first can assess the physiological nature of the interaction, whereas the latter can elucidate global network effects, making the techniques complementary. Neurophysiological interactions of ipsilesional and contralesional PMv-M1 were tested in chronic subcortical stroke patients during grasping. Patients showed a diminished facilitatory influence of ipsilesional PMv on M1 compared to healthy controls which might contribute to their motor disability. Application of paired-associative TMS “normalised“ the reduced effective influence of ipsilesional PMv on M1 and this effect correlated with the patient‘s potential to improve their dexterity.