This Research Topic is a follow-up to a previous topic that appeared in
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience:
"Proprioceptive Dysfunction, Related Motor Disorders and Their Neurological (Robotic) Rehabilitation"
After nervous system injury one major goal of neurological rehabilitation is to recover sensorimotor function. Somatosensory information from the body’s periphery is known to be essential for intact motor function. Yet, the processing of somatosensory signals is often compromised after brain or spinal cord injury, or it becomes impaired due to stroke or neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson’s disease.
Somatosensory loss constitutes a major roadblock for neurorehabilitation. Because these patients are unable to use proprioceptive or tactile information, it degrades their motor control and impedes the relearning of basic motor functions such as balance or the manipulation of objects with their hands.
Within the framework of neurorehabilitation robotic devices afford new opportunities to aid and enhance somatosensory-based motor learning. Human-machine interfaces hold great potential in helping to restore functional independence in a wide range of motor disabilities. Moreover, the ability of such devices to augment residual or substitute for lost tactile or proprioceptive sensory function constitute an additional path to improve therapy outcomes. Although the next decade will see an increased use of robotic tools in neurorehabilitation, there are still numerous issues that will require attention before such robots will see widespread use in clinical rehabilitation settings such as determining the optimal dosage and timing of such interventions for specific motor disease entities and identifying the underlying mechanisms of neuroplasticity and their limits. The purpose of this interdisciplinary research topic is to provide a platform:
• to discuss the current state of knowledge on somatosensory dysfunction and its impact on motor behavior,
• to determine the relevant knowledge gaps and technological challenges, and
• to develop a framework of how new robotic rehabilitation techniques can help to overcome current barriers in
treating patients who experience motor dysfunctions associated with somatosensory loss.
To comprehensively cover this interdisciplinary area, this Research Topic seeks contributions from experts with diverse backgrounds in biomedical, mechanical and control engineering, haptics, human movement science, neurology, neurophysiology, physiatry, physical and occupational therapy, and psychology. To establish a comprehensive, state-of-the-art knowledge base of the research in and around this topic we invite articles covering Original Research, Methods, Hypothesis & Theory and Reviews.
