A New Method for Assessing Self-Touch Enhancement of the Foot in Stroke Patients with Mobility Problems. (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: White, Rebekah C; Davies, Anne M Aimola
• Is Part Of: Perception. Volume 42:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 473
• Page End: 476
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: body representation -- rubber-hand illusion -- self-touch -- sensation -- stroke; Perception -- Periodicals; Perception -- Periodicals; Perception; Periodicals; 153.705
• DOI: 10.1068/p7400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-0066

Abstract

Patient NG is the first reported case of lower-limb 'self-touch enhancement' following stroke. Mobility problems prevented NG from reaching to touch her foot, thus we used a self-touch rubber-hand paradigm to mimic the conditions of self-administered touch. With vision precluded, NG administered stimulation to a prosthetic limb while the Examiner administered synchronous stimulation to NG's affected left foot. NG detected all stimulation administered with our self-touch paradigm, whereas in the control condition (with NG not involved in administering stimulation), NG had failed to detect one-third of Examiner-administered stimulation. When mobility problems are a barrier to investigating self-touch enhancement, the self-touch paradigm can be used to demonstrate residual tactile sensation following stroke.