Positive Technology Journal

PlaydoCAM™ is a free software that allows to use the web camera into a motion-tracking gaming device and play pong or basketball on Mac or PC without installing any new software by the interface mechanism of waving the hands in the air. I tried it and it worked fine...

I think that this technology could be effectively used in home-based training for poststroke hemiplegia

From the CP&B website

Functions of the Mirror Neuron System: Implications for Neurorehabilitation.

Cogn Behav Neurol. 2006 Mar;19(1):55-63

Authors: Buccino G, Solodkin A, Small SL

Mirror neurons discharge during the execution of hand object-directed actions and during the observation of the same actions performed by other individuals. These neurons were first identified in the ventral premotor cortex (area F5) and later on in the inferior parietal lobule of monkey brain, thus constituting the mirror neuron system. More recently, mirror neurons for mouth object-directed actions have also been found in the monkey. Several pieces of experimental data demonstrate that a mirror neuron system devoted to hand, mouth, and foot actions is also present in humans. In the present paper we review the experimental evidence on the role of the mirror neuron system in action understanding, imitation learning of novel complex actions, and internal rehearsal (motor imagery) of actions. On the basis of features of the mirror neuron system and its role in action understanding and imitation, we discuss the possible use of action observation and imitation as an approach for systematic training in the rehabilitation of patients with motor impairment of the upper limb after stroke.

Cognitive skills analysis, kinesiology, and mental imagery in the acquisition of surgical skills.

J Otolaryngol. 2005 Oct;34(5):328-32

Authors: Bathalon S, Dorion D, Darveau S, Martin M

GOAL: Isolate and evaluate the impact of mental imagery on the acquisition of an emergency surgical technique. METHOD: We studied 44 first-year medical students performing a cricothyrotomy on a mannequin to determine the impact of teaching using mental imagery (MI) and/or kinesiology (KG) compared to the standard Advandec Trauma Life Support (ATLS) approach. Students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: MI and KG, KG alone or control (ATLS). Two weeks after the one-hour teaching session, they were evaluated with an OSCE testing the performance of the different steps of the technique, the time required and its fluidity. RESULTS: Total results (maximum: 25 marks) are as follows: KG + MI = 20.3 +/- 1.5 ; KG = 19.3 +/- 2.9 ; ATLS = 18.2 +/- 2.5. The only statistically significant difference for total results was in the use of MI and KG compared to the control group. Kinesiology alone or with mental imagery improved the fluidity of the performance. CONCLUSION: Many factors influence the acquisition of a surgical technique. This study showed that acquisition and performance of an emergency procedure (cricothyrotomy) was improved when mental imagery and kinesiology were combined to teach it.

Simulating social interaction to address deficits of autistic spectrum disorder in children.

Cyberpsychol Behav. 2006 Apr;9(2):213-7

Authors: Trepagnier CY, Sebrechts MM, Finkelmeyer A, Stewart W, Woodford J, Coleman M

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed on the basis of impairment in reciprocal social interaction and language, and rigidity of behavior. This brief paper describes the development of an experimental intervention for preschool children newly diagnosed with ASD. The rationale for this intervention is the hypothesis that failure to attend to social cues in very early life, of itself, may bear a large share of responsibility for core social and communicative deficits. The intervention, therefore, uses eye-tracking to monitor and trigger rewards for attention to facial expression and direction of gaze.

Neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy: from basic rationale to practical application.

Expert Rev Neurother. 2006 Feb;6(2):247-57

Authors: Egner T, Sterman MB