Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research
Nonlinear mixed-effects model reveals a distinction between learning and performance in intensive reach training post-stroke
Published in: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2017
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Background
We recently showed that individuals with chronic stroke who completed two sessions of intensive unassisted arm reach training exhibited improvements in movement times up to one month post-training. Here, we study whether changes in movement times during training can predict long-term changes.
Methods
Sixteen participants with chronic stroke and ten non-disabled age-matched participants performed two sessions of reach training with 600 movements per session. Movement time data during training were fitted to a nonlinear mixed-effects model consisting of a decreasing exponential term to model improvements of performance due to learning and an increasing linear term to model worsening of performance due to activity-dependent fatigability and/or other factors unrelated to learning.
Results
For non-disabled age-matched participants, movement times gradually decreased overall during training and overall changes in movement times during training predicted long-term changes. In contrast, for participants post-stroke, movement times often worsened near the end of training. As a result, overall changes in movement times during training did not predict long-term changes in movement times in the stroke group. However, improvements in movement times due to training, as estimated by the exponential term of the model, predicted long-term changes in movement times.
Conclusion
Participants post-stroke showed a distinction between learning and performance in unassisted intensive arm reach training. Despite worsening of performance in later trials, extended training was beneficial for long-term gains.