New Perspectives in the Rehabilitation of Children With Motor Disorders : the Role of the Mirror Neuron System

NCT ID: NCT01016496

Last Updated: 2014-06-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2010-11-30

Brief Summary

Evidence exists that the activation of actions activates the same cortical motor areas that are involved in the performance of the observed actions. The neural substrate for this phenomena is the mirror neuron system. It is generally assumed that mirror neurons have a basic role in understanding the intentions of others and in imitation learning. There is evidence that action observation has a positive effect on rehabilitation of motor disorders after stroke. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that action observation followed by the repetition of the actions previously observed has a positive impact on rehabilitation of the upper limb in children affected by hemiplegia as a consequence of Cerebral Palsy. In particular, the purpose is to assess if mirror neurons could improve the amount, the quality and the velocity of movements and the cooperation between the two upper extremities.

Conditions

Hemiplegia; Cerebral Palsy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Action observation plus repetition

Observation of actions and repetition of the same actions

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

action observation therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

15 consecutive sessions of 18 minutes, plus repetition

repetition only

repetition of gestures

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

repetition of gestures

Intervention Type: OTHER

15 consecutive session of visual games, plus repetition of gestures

Interventions

action observation therapy

15 consecutive sessions of 18 minutes, plus repetition

Intervention Type: OTHER

repetition of gestures

15 consecutive session of visual games, plus repetition of gestures

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• children with hemiplegia and
• Melbourne assessment > 50 points

Exclusion Criteria

• inability to collaborate
• pharmacoresistant epilepsy
• inability to imitate gestures
• sensitivity disorders

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Parma

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Stefania Costi

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Stefania Costi

technician

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Rizzolatti Giacomo, Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Parma

Ferrari Adriano, Professor

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Locations

Hospital of Parma

Parma, Parma, Italy

IRCCS Stella Maris

Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Azienda Santa Maria Nuova -

Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Countries

Italy

References

Sgandurra G, Biagi L, Fogassi L, Ferrari A, Sicola E, Guzzetta A, Tosetti M, Cioni G. Reorganization of action observation and sensory-motor networks after action observation therapy in children with congenital hemiplegia: A pilot study. Dev Neurobiol. 2020 Sep;80(9-10):351-360. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22783. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 32986904 (View on PubMed)

Sgandurra G, Ferrari A, Cossu G, Guzzetta A, Biagi L, Tosetti M, Fogassi L, Cioni G. Upper limb children action-observation training (UP-CAT): a randomised controlled trial in hemiplegic cerebral palsy. BMC Neurol. 2011 Jun 28;11:80. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-80.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 21711525 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

MIRROR_UDGEE_09

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id