Immersive Action Observation Treatment with Multisensory Stimulation and Neurophysiological Measures in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy and Typical Development - A Pilot Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are exploring the Mirror Neuron System (MNS) and its role in rehabilitation techniques such as Action Observation Treatment (AOT) and Motor Imagery (MI), which activate neural circuits during movement observation or imagination. This pilot observational study focuses on children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP), the most common childhood motor disorder, and compares them with typically developing peers. The study aims to determine if a multisensory immersive AO session, combining visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli, produces stronger MNS activation than traditional visual-only AO sessions. Each participant will undergo two high-density Electroencephalography (hdEEG) sessions: one immersive session featuring first-person videos with matching auditory cues and tactile stimuli delivered by haptic gloves, and a traditional session showing videos without sound or touch. The order of these sessions will be randomized. During both sessions, participants will observe actions, then perform or imagine them, while eye tracking monitors their gaze and attention. Throughout each session, brain activity will be recorded with a 128-channel hdEEG net, and videos will capture motor responses and compliance. After each session, participants will complete motor imagery questionnaires and tasks assessing their ability to imagine actions. Data analysis will compare neurophysiological responses between immersive and traditional AO, and explore relationships between brain activity, attention, motor imagery, and clinical assessments for the CP group. Participation involves two one-hour sessions with detailed monitoring and questionnaire assessments.

Immersive AOT: Multisensory Stimulation and Neurophysiological Correlates in Children With Cerebral Palsy and Typical Development - A Pilot Study