Prof. Lior Shmuelof Photo Dani Machlis BGU
The impact of the ability to follow instructions on the rehabilitation of stroke patients has not been previously studied. Researchers at the Joint Laboratory for Neurological Rehabilitation Research, a collaboration between Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Adi-Negev Nahalat Eran, investigated this relationship and its effect on motor recovery. Their findings were published in Neuropsychology.
A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack,” occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
We all rely on our ability to follow instructions for everyday tasks. But how does stroke, and the impairments it can cause, affect this crucial skill? Researchers Dr. Reut Binyamin-Netser and Prof. Lior Shmuelof of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences investigated how stroke impacts the ability to adapt to changing instructions, and explored the cognitive functions that support this ability.
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Stroke occurs because of a sudden disruption in the blood supply to brain tissue by a blood clot or by bleeding. This disruption causes neuronal damage that can manifest in various ways. One of the most common impairments (72% of cases) after stroke is cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment manifests in memory and attention problems and in impairments in abilities that require executive functions, adaptation processes to change, adjustments to unexpected situations, and self-control. These impairments lead to functional deficits and predict a lower chance of independent functioning after stroke. Another consequence of cognitive impairment after stroke is impairment in the learning ability of subjects, which may affect their ability to participate in and benefit from the rehabilitation treatment they receive.
To investigate the phenomenon, the researchers examined two groups of subjects. One group consisted of 31 stroke patients, while 36 subjects in the same age range (55-75) served as a control group. All participants in the study were given computerized tasks in which they had to respond to stimuli according to their color and location on the screen, and other tasks designed to characterize cognitive abilities such as response inhibition ability and information processing speed using symbols.
The results showed a decrease in accuracy and response times during instruction following a stroke (compared to the control group). In addition, there was a decrease in information processing speed and a decrease in response inhibition ability. A relationship was also found between the patients’ response inhibition abilities and their ability to follow instructions.
According to Prof. Shmuelof: “The study opens the door to examining the relationship between cognitive functions and motor and cognitive recovery. This connection is critical in an era where technologies such as video games play a central role in rehabilitation.”
