Thesis
Investigating Differences in Motor Cortex Neuroplasticity Between Chronic Burn Survivors and Non-Burn-Injured Controls
Honours, Murdoch University
2023
Abstract
Burn injuries can result in enduring motor impairments, with some evidence suggesting these impairments may be due to changes in motor cortex neuroplasticity. However, research thus far has only explored changes within the first 12 weeks post-injury. As such, this study examined motor cortex neuroplasticity in chronic burn survivors (1-3 years post-injury) compared to non-burn-injured controls. Additionally, this study assessed associations between neuroplasticity and motor function, measured by the Purdue Pegboard assembly task and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). This study utilised Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS), a neuroplasticity-inducing protocol that combines peripheral nerve stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), to measure sensorimotor neuroplasticity following PAS. Within 14 burn survivors and 14 controls, neither group exhibited the expected increase in corticospinal excitability following PAS (p = .768, ηp2 = < .01). The absence of PAS-induced neuroplasticity may be due to individual variability, emphasising the need for more robust methods of inducing neuroplasticity. As for motor function, burn survivors performed more poorly than non-burn-injured controls on the assembly task (p = <.01, d = 1.26) and scored lower on several domains of the SF-36 (p = .032, ηp2 = .17), indicating lasting functional impairments post-burn injury. These functional impairments, however, showed no association with sensorimotor neuroplasticity in this sample (all r >.40, all p >.78). The findings of this study highlight the need for further research into neural mechanisms following burn injury and exploration of interventions to improve long-term function in burn survivors.
Details
- Title
- Investigating Differences in Motor Cortex Neuroplasticity Between Chronic Burn Survivors and Non-Burn-Injured Controls
- Authors/Creators
- Alecia T Wood
- Contributors
- Ann-Maree Vallence (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Healthy AgeingGrant Rowe (Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Honours
- Identifiers
- 991005779521407891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology
- Resource Type
- Thesis
Metrics
20 File views/ downloads
28 Record Views