Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Summer 1980

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

John Gurski

Abstract

Six male recent stroke patients served as subjects for the experiment. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. All three contained two treatment conditions (B1, B2) and one control condition (A). Each group had a different location of the A condition; AB1B2, B1AB2 and B1B2A. Patients were given EMG biofeedback training to contract the muscles of the forearm on the side of the body affected by the stroke. While in the A condition, muscle activity was monitored but feedback was not given. Each patient was seen for 24, twenty minute sessions. The hypothesis being that the greatest regain of muscle strength would be during the treatment conditions. The results did not support the hypothesis, however, significant differences were found between the groups. The results suggest that the later the control condition appeared in the group, the greater the increase in muscle strength. The ABB group demonstrated no significant change, the BAB group did demonstrate in performance during the A condition followed by an increase in the B2 condition. The BBA group demonstrated a significant Conditions effect F(2,21) = 26, P <.001 and continued to increase in muscle strength during the A condition. It appears there is a critical period of time after a stroke where the brain cells adjacent to the damaged area, are capable of learning to assume the function of the damaged cells.

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Rights

© 1980 Randall Jarman

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