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Neurocognitive rehabilitation after brain damage

Sensory losses due to cortical damage show spontaneous recovery during the first 4-6 weeks after the damage. This recovery can be improved, and even the chronic sensory impairments can be further decreased with simple sensory tasks devoted to the systematic use of the sensory abilities.

The topics of this project are to determine the effectiveness of different sensory tasks in sensory recovery, and to study the possible changes in cortical functions during the recovery with functional brain imaging techniques (PET, fMRI). Thus, the results will be applicable to sensory rehabilitation and will also give insight to brain plasticity underlying the changes at behavioral level. Preliminary results indicate that change at behavioral level is possible following active training.

Researchers

The project is conducted by Dr. Olli Tenovuo, M.D. and Dr. Heikki Hämäläinen, Ph.D., together with Laura Julkunen, M.D. and many colleagues.

Funding

The main funding is from the Academy of Finland, University of Turku and Turku University Central Hospital.

Contact

Heikki Hämäläinen, Ph.D., Prof.
Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology
University of Turku
20014 Turku, Finland
Tel +358 2 333 5428, fax +358 2 333 5060
E-mail heikki.hamalainen@utu.fi

Laura Julkunen, M.D.
Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology
University of Turku
20014 Turku, Finland
Tel +358 2 333 8783, fax +358 2 333 5060
E-mail laura.julkunen@utu.fi

References

Julkunen L, Hämäläinen H, Tenovuo O: Recovery of chronic visual field defect after computer-assisted training: a case study. 11th Nordic Meeting on Cerebrovascular Diseases and 2nd Biennial Kuopio Symposium on Ischaemic Stroke, Kuopio, Finland 11-14.8.2001.

Julkunen L, Tenovuo O, Jääskeläinen S, Hämäläinen H: Recovery of chronic homonymous post-stroke visual field defect after computer-assisted training detected by visual perimetry and visual evoked potentials. 3rd Forum of European Neuroscience, Paris, France 13-17.7.2002.

Julkunen L, Tenovuo O, Jääskeläinen S, Hämäläinen H: Rehabilitation of chronic post-stroke visual field defect with computer-assisted training - a clinical and neurophysiological study. Submitted.

Munck P, Laine M, Hämäläinen H: Aivovaurion jälkeinen kognitiivis-hermostollinen kuntoutuvuus: haaste psykologialle ja aivokuvantamiselle. Psykologia 36 (2001) 230-238.