Computer
Assisted Biofeedback
Dr. Bernard Brucker
Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and Radiology at the University of
Miami-School of Medicine, Director of the Biofeedback Laboratory at University
of Miami School of Medicine/Miami Jewish Home & Hospital.
Abstract:
Computer Assisted Biofeedback:
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How it is done
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Animal studies
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Physiological effects
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Role in Augmenting Neuroplasticity
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Application in Stroke, head Injury, CP, etc
Neuroplasticity:
Implications for Long Term Recovery after CNS Damage
Recent findings
from the neurosciences have shown that CNS cell damage occurring from trauma or
disease has the capability of long term repair, such as axonal growth and re-myelinization.
Further, both dendrite and axonal sprouting have been known to occur after
damage, although it still remains apparent that cell death results in the
absence of CNS tissue due to the inability for regeneration of new CNS cells.
Individuals who suffer CNS damage have been known to regain some if not a
substantial amount of function clinically although the time of recovery does
appear to be limited to about one year post damage. As such, the clinical field
assumes that all the repair and alternate cell use of the CNS occurs within that
time. However, it has been shown that behavioral techniques, especially those
using an operant conditioning based learning paradigm applied to specific
learned control of motor neuron responses can result in significantly more
efficient use of remaining and repairing cells’ structures with a substantial
improvement in function which would not otherwise occur.
This presentation
will discuss the recent findings related to cell repair and demonstrate how
specific operant conditioning techniques, designed to increase voluntary control
of motor neuron responses, can result in significantly greater use of CNS tissue
regardless of the time since damage and its associated clinical effect.
Dr. Bernard S.
Brucker, Ph.D, Abpp
Associate Professor, University of