Hosang Moon

In this study, we collected various past study results on tools and analytical methods for measuring hand functions of patients with degenerative brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke, and selected and proposed appropriate hand function measurement tools, methods, and analysis software based on text network analysis. We searched the literatures using keywords related to degenerative brain disease and stroke patients for participant types, use of devices and sensors for the intervention types, and hand function assessment for measurement types. Among the 2484 literatures collected, 19 were eventually selected based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. As a result of text network analysis, the degree-centrality and the betweenness centrality were the highest in the keyword of Parkinson’s disease for the participant type, force sensor for the intervention type, and finger tapping for the measurement type. Based on these results, pinch gloves comprising an FSR sensor were manufactured, and software and contents were implemented to measure and analyze various quantitative parameter values during finger tapping. The software can evaluate endurance and agility by measuring the finger-tapping intensity and operation time using the index finger and thumb. The contents can evaluate the stability of hand functions by analyzing the coefficient of variation of the tapping interval, the average contact time, and the accuracy of hand functions by analyzing the reaction rate to the presented visual stimulus. As a result of comparing hand functions through 10 types of analysis parameters with a sample of 12 ordinary subjects (8 men and 4 women) using the manufactured pinch gloves, there was a difference between the two genders in the items evaluating muscle strength and agility, and a significant difference in the analysis parameters evaluating stability and accuracy. The results indicate that using the text network analysis-based hand function measurement tool and the method proposed in this study should help derive the objective research results as well as a quantitative comparison of research results of various researchers.

Drivers collect information of road and traffic conditions through a visual search while driving to avoid any potential hazards they perceive. Novice drivers with lack of driving experience may be involved in a car accident as they misjudge the information obtained by insufficient visual search with a narrower field of vision than experienced drivers do. In this regard, the current study compared and identified the gap between novice and experienced drivers in regard to the information they obtained in a visual search of gaze movement and visual attention. A combination of a static analysis, based on the dwell time, fixation duration, the number of fixations and stationary gaze entropy in visual search, and a dynamic analysis using gaze transition entropy was applied. The static analysis on gaze indicated that the group of novice drivers showed a longer dwell time on the traffic lights, pedestrians, and passing vehicles, and a longer fixation duration on the navigation system and the dashboard than the experienced ones. Also, the novice had their eyes fixed on the area of interests straight ahead more frequently while driving at an intersection. In addition, the novice group demonstrated less information at 2.60 bits out of the maximum stationary gaze entropy of 3.32 bits that a driver can exhibit, which indicated that their gaze fixations were concentrated. Meanwhile, the experienced group displayed approx. 3.09 bits, showing that their gaze was not narrowed on a certain area of interests, but was relatively evenly distributed. The dynamic analysis results showed that the novice group conducted the most gaze transitions between traffic lights, pedestrians and passing vehicles, whereas experienced drivers displayed the most transitions between the right- and left-side mirrors, passing vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic lights to find more out about the surrounding traffic conditions. In addition, the experienced group (3.04 bits) showed a higher gaze transition entropy than the novice group (2.21 bits). This indicated that a larger entropy was required to understand the visual search data because visual search strategies changed depending on the situations.

In many post-stroke cases, patients show dysfunctions in movement, cognition, sense, and language, depending on the damaged area of the brain. Active and repetitive physical rehabilitation centered on the stroke-affected side is essential for effective and rapid neurological recovery of upper extremity dysfunction due to hemiplegia. A symmetric upper extremity trainer is utilized to assist the patient body, depending upon the degree of hemiplegia. In this study, we developed a novel balance handle as a symmetric upper extremity trainer capable of extension, flexion, pronation, and supination of the upper extremity. We collected the surface electromyogram (sEMG) signal data while the subjects were playing a serious game and recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal data while the subjects were performing basic movements with the balance handle, to analyze the effectiveness of the device as an assistive tool for rehabilitation. The triceps brachii were activated during the extension movements, whereas the biceps brachii and deltoid muscles were activated during the flexion movements. With the balance handle, the peak event-related desynchronization (ERD) values were relatively lower while showing higher peak event-related synchronization (ERS) values compared to other types of operating methods, such as hand gripping and gamepad operation. Movement intention of tilting the balance handle for the α and β waves was clearly distinguished from the other tasks. These data demonstrated the potential of various applications using the developed proof-of-concept upper extremity trainer to bring out an excellent rehabilitative effect not only through muscle growth but also via identification of large movement intentions inducing brain activation exercise.