Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2013, Communication Disorders

Speech and non-speech motor deficits have been frequently reported in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). These deficits not only impact the performance of specific tasks but also may affect quality of life (QOL) of individuals with PD. Prior studies have indicated mixed findings regarding perception of speech and non-speech motor performance of individuals with PD. Some studies report accurate self-perception by individuals with PD and other researchers suggest either underestimation or overestimation of own performance by the individuals with PD. The present study examined perception of speech and non-speech motor performance of individuals with PD by examining relationships between perceptual ratings by individuals with PD, ratings by communication partners, and ratings by a trained rater and corresponding speech and non-speech motor measures. Comparison of perceptual speech ratings by the three rater groups indicated overestimation of speech loudness by individuals with PD and communication partners when compared to the trained rater. Overall results indicated that individuals with PD and communication partners had perceptual deficits regarding speech and non-speech motor performance of individuals with PD. In addition to rating the speech of individuals with PD, the three rater groups rated the speech of control speakers. Results provided evidence for general perception deficit in individuals with PD. Finally, comparison of QOL ratings by individuals with PD (self ratings) and communication partners (proxy ratings) indicated no statistically significant group differences for non-speech motor and speech-related QOL measures. During situations when self-reports are either unavailable or not feasible, the communication partners can be included as alternative sources for obtaining information related to QOL changes in individuals with PD. However, self and proxy ratings should be carefully analyzed to determine the effects of PD-related deficits in individuals (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alexander Goberman (Advisor); John Folkins (Committee Member); Miriam Krause (Committee Member); Angela Nelson (Committee Member) Subjects: Speech Therapy

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2024, Mechanical Engineering

The average physical therapy clinic lacks the funding and resources to install highly specific movement assessment and rehabilitation tools. Moreover, engagement of patients during rehabilitation is difficult to maintain due to the mundane nature of the routines. Virtual Reality (VR) systems have the capacity to become an all-in-one system that gives an engaging and highly customizable experience for each user. VR also incorporates wearable sensors that allow for tracking the position and orientation of individual segments. This study has two primary aims, the first is to validate that a VR system is capable of upper extremity movement motion capture comparable to the golden standard of infrared motion capture. The second aim is to assess movement task data extracted from a VR game to see if quantification of a cohort with spinal cord injury (SCI) is possible through a simulated task. Two cohorts were included in this study, a group of persons with history of SCI (n=7), and a control group (n=9). Each participant was asked to play a modified commercially available VR game known as BeatSaber. The levels were separated into therapy-based mirrored, opposing, and unilateral tasks. Moreover, each task was defined by its position and orientation relative to the user. Additionally, task color was used to distinguish which hand to perform the task with. Results from the VR system compared to the IR system showed that the overall error between the two systems was on average between 4.2°-8.6° and showed small instantaneous errors with all joint angles being less than 2°. Moreover, the instantaneous error was even lower at peak values reported in the IR system. Results allowed for a comparison of performance data for a combination of seven SCI with seven age and gender matched control groups. Task related data showed that SCI tended to have asymmetrical impact from injury and performed worse compared to the control group.

Committee: Allison Kinney (Advisor); Megan Reissman (Advisor) Subjects: Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Mechanical Engineering; Rehabilitation

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE), Wright State University, 2023, Electrical Engineering

Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon that can enhance the detection or transmission of weak signals by adding random noise to a non-linear system. SR introduced into the human motor control system as a subthreshold mechanical vibration has shown promise to improve sensitivity to haptic feedback. SR can be valuable in a laparoscopic surgery application, where haptic feedback is critical. This research sought to find if applying SR to the human motor control system improves performance in a laparoscopic probing task, if the performance differs based on the location of stochastic resonance application, and if there are sustained effects from SR after its removal. Subjects were asked to perform a palpation task using a laparoscopic probe to determine whether a series of simulated tissue samples contained a tumor. Subjects in the treatment groups were presented with a series of samples under the following conditions: Pre-SR, SR applied to the forearm or elbow, and Post-SR. Subjects in the control group did not have SR applied at any point. Performance was measured through the accuracy of tissue assessment, subjects' confidence in their assessment, and assessment time. Data from 27 subjects were analyzed to investigate the application of stochastic resonance and its sustained effects to improve haptic feedback sensitivity in a simulated laparoscopic task. The forearm group was shown to have significant improvement in the accuracy of tissue identification and sensitivity to haptic feedback with the application of SR. Additionally, the forearm group showed a greater improvement in accuracy and sensitivity than the elbow group. Finally, after SR was removed, the forearm group showed sustained significant improvement in accuracy and sensitivity. Therefore, the experiment results supported the hypotheses that stochastic resonance improves subjects' performance and haptic perception, that performance improvement differs based on application location, and that subjec (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Luther Palmer III, Ph.D. (Advisor); Caroline Cao Ph.D. (Committee Member); Katherine Lin M.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Engineering; Health; Health Care; Mechanical Engineering; Surgery

PHD, Kent State University, 2022, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a tennis serve intervention on motor skill performance and motor skill procedural knowledge of novice middle school student-athletes who were unprepared for interscholastic competition. The intervention package introduced mobile device technology within Mosston and Ashworth's (2002) reciprocal style to implement digital task cards with a video model and three feedback conditions: peer feedback using criteria information, peer-assisted video feedback, and peer-assisted video feedback with criteria information. Results from three single-case experiments showed that the intervention improved performance during practice and produced positive learning outcomes for all six participants. Social validity interviews showed satisfaction with the amount of feedback provided within the reciprocal style, an understanding of the importance of using the proper procedure for the tennis serve, and performance change significant enough for inter-scholastic competition. Implications for research included a need for more specific standards for treatment integrity and the possible restructuring of the experimental design to obtain valid results from an intervention focused on peer-assisted video feedback with criteria information throughout instruction. Implications for practice included ways to incorporate mobile device technology for teaching the tennis serve, focus on knowledge of performance over knowledge of results feedback for procedural knowledge acquisition, and gather information to continuously improve instruction.

Committee: Stephen Mitchell (Committee Chair); Douglas Ellison (Committee Member); Enrico Gandolfi (Committee Member) Subjects: Educational Psychology; Educational Technology; Physical Education

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2022, Mechanical Engineering

An understanding of how pilots complete their flight tasks is an essential element of preventing aviation incidents. Disorientation or a loss of control of the aircraft are some direct causes of such events. This study seeks to assess the impact of environmental factors on the ability of general aviation pilots to complete flight tasks. Certified Pilots (n=16) with experience flying a Cessna 172 or similar aircraft participated. They were tasked with flying a virtual model of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. This was accomplished using X-Plane 11 flight simulation software, Honeycomb Alpha flight controls, and a Saitek throttle quadrant. The software was integrated with an HTC Vive Pro virtual reality headset. Within X-Plane 11, three environmental conditions were created: Clear, Partial Clouds (Partial Cover), and Full Clouds (Total Cover). All weather conditions other than cloud cover were the same across the environments with no wind present. No clouds are present in the Clear environment. Roughly 50% of the ground is obscured by clouds in the Partial Clouds environment. The ground is completely obscured by clouds in the Full Clouds environment. While in an environment, pilots were tasked with performing a series of 500 ft ascents, 500 ft descents, 90° turns to the right, and 90° turns to the left. These tasks were completed above the cloud layers of the environments. During Day A, the pilots flew in each of the environments twice. During Day B, pilots flew in the Full Clouds environment twice and were exposed to hypoxic air during one of those times. The hypoxic air is 10% oxygen and simulates an altitude of approximately 14,000 ft. The pilots were assessed based on their altitude error, heading error, heading rate of change, task duration, and the amount of motor control effort that was required to complete the task. When flying in environmental conditions that have fewer visual cues such as the Total Cover condition, pilots experienced more error a (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Megan Reissman (Advisor); Anne Crecelius (Committee Member); Timothy Reissman (Committee Member) Subjects: Aerospace Engineering; Biomechanics; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2018, Psychology

Cognitive aspects of driving on a winding roadway were investigated using a model comprised of a driver, a vehicle, and a roadway. The model contained a feedback loop for maintaining lane position and feedforward that utilized anticipatory roadway information available in preview (Donges, 1978, McRuer, Allen, Weir, & Klein, 1977). Perturbation techniques assessed both feedback control and feedforward attention. Subjects' attentional allocation to preview was determined by analyzing the Fourier spectrum of their steering movements as they attempted to center a cursor on a winding roadway. This technique provided a distribution of signal-to-noise ratios indicating where and how much attention subjects allocated to different preview locations. We used this measure to test predictions of an optimal control model (Miller, 1976) that attention for a rate control system would be concentrated on preview regions closer to the vehicle and decrease to almost no attention to regions further away. Experiment 1 demonstrated that the measurement technique could adequately capture how subjects allocated attention. We compared how the spatiotemporal shape and the relative magnitude of subjects' attentional distribution changed when they had restricted or fuller view of the upcoming roadway. We found subjects performed better with fuller view, and that they distributed their attention in a manner that was qualitatively consistent with Miller's (1976) predictions. Comparisons between different regions of restricted preview found subjects could shift their attention equally well to near or far preview regions. Experiment 2 manipulated subjects' tracking style by putting them in an error minimizing or an effort minimizing mode. We examined their attentional allocation with restricted preview and failed to find support for a generalization of Miller's (1976) model for fuller view, which predicted subjects would allocate less attention to preview when they prioritize (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Richard Jagacinski (Advisor); Alexander Petrov (Committee Member); Andrew Leber (Committee Member); Junming Wang (Committee Member) Subjects: Cognitive Psychology; Experimental Psychology; Psychology

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2018, Washkewicz College of Engineering

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy and is characterized by compression of the median nerve. Median nerve injury in CTS patients alters the afferent-efferent processing circuit within the central nervous system, affecting digits' sensory and motor performance. Studies have reported that the disrupted afferent input in CTS reorganizes the digit cortical representation in the primary sensory cortex (S1) of median nerve innervated digits, with the exception of the thumb. However, the extent of altered digit representation in the primary motor cortex (M1) due to CTS remains to be determined. It is important to evaluate S1/M1 reorganization because alterations at the cortical level due to CTS may undermine digit performance, including the interdependency and stability of digit forces during manual tasks. Moreover, by providing augmented tactile information at the digit pad to compensate for patients diminished sensory capacity, it may be possible to reverse or rehabilitate impaired performance. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to investigate CTS-induced alterations in digit cortical representations of the thumb and forefinger and to examine each individual digits' motor performance with and without tactile stimulation. Firstly, CTS-induced alterations in the cortical representation of the thumb and forefinger were examined in the S1 and M1 cortices using high resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Then digit's interdependency and force stability of the thumb and forefinger were investigated with and without vibrotactile stimulation applied to the digit pad. The results from this study showed that CTS is associated with altered digit cortical representations with decreased activation strength and decreased distinctiveness in both S1 and M1 regions. We also observed that CTS patients demonstrated increased digit interdependency and force variability compared to controls. Forced variability, but not interdepe (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: ZONG-MING LI (Committee Chair); MOO-YEAL LEE (Committee Member); ANN REINTHAL (Committee Member) Subjects: Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering; Biomedical Research; Engineering; Neurobiology; Neurology; Neurosciences; Radiology; Rehabilitation; Science Education; Scientific Imaging

Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, 2017, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Past research has led to the conclusion, through studies of the speed-accuracy trade-off, that there is a natural covariance between speed and accuracy within individuals on movement tasks (Adam, 1992). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the speed-accuracy continuum and risk-taking personality characteristics. In order to investigate the hypotheses, the study used a Fitts' cyclical aiming task in which participants moved a mouse between two targets that were at various widths and amplitudes. The various widths and amplitudes included 15 unique combinations of movement measurements, which were compared to two measures of risk-taking. These were the Investment Risk Tolerance Quiz (IRTQ), which is a questionnaire that measures an individual's risk-tolerance with regard to financial investment, and the Personality Inventory of the DSM-5 (PID-5), which is an overarching method of testing personality characteristics, including risk-taking. We used a linear regression between risk-taking and measures of motor performance (movement time, accuracy, and variability) to assess if there is a relationship between the two. With this analysis, we were interested if variability along one dimension predicted the variability along the other dimension. The first prediction, that as movement time (MT) increases risk taking should decline, did not yield significant results. The second prediction, that as accuracy increases, with regard to target hits and misses, risk taking should decline was also found not to be significant. Last, the prediction that variability increases, with regard to the standard deviation of movement amplitude, as risk taking increases was found not to be significant also. These predictions were not significant and this study failed to provide a link between an individual's personality and their movement characteristics

Committee: Andrew Slifkin Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Conor McLennan Ph.D. (Other); Albert Smith Ph.D. (Committee Member); Eric Allard Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Physiological Psychology; Psychological Tests; Psychology

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2007, Human Factors and Industrial/Organizational Psychology MS

Traditionally, private communication channels with stable characteristics have been used in teleoperation situations. However, recently there have been a few attempts at using public communication channels such as the Internet. In spite of their convenience, very little is known about the effect of the variable delays inherent in this type of channel on motor performance. In this thesis, we provide empirical data on the impact of variable feedback delays on a 3D visual target-acquisition task performed in a virtual environment. Target size, distance between targets, mean feedback delay, and feedback-delay variability were manipulated and the number of errors and movement time (MT) were measured. Results showed that feedback-delay variability affected the closed-loop part of visual target-acquisition movements, even though its effect was weaker than the effect of mean feedback delay. Our results advise against using techniques that reduce feedback-delay variability at the expense of increasing mean feedback delay. In addition, we found that target size was critical for visual target-acquisition performance in the presence of feedback delays and this should be considered when designing teleoperation situations. Issues associated with studying feedback-delay variability are identified and lines of future research are suggested.

Committee: Robert Gilkey (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, Experimental

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2011, Medicine: Neuroscience/Medical Science Scholars Interdisciplinary

Environmental enrichment (EE) provides many neurological benefits including increased cortical weight, neuronal density, dendritic branching, and angiogenesis. These changes manifest as improved cognitive performance. In a rodent model, EE is used successfully as a therapy following traumatic brain injury (TBI) to reduce functional deficits in motor function, spatial memory, and learning. The objective of this work is to exploit the benefits of EE to identify training mechanisms that can be applied to healthy adults to enhance cognitive performance and provide neuroprotection. Two experiments were conducted. The first experiment explored EE as a neuroprotective strategy against cognitive deficits induced by traumatic neurological insults. Adult male rats were placed in an enriched environment for 15 days before medial prefrontal cortex injury via controlled cortical impact. Animals were behaviorally tested to assess memory, anxiety, and sensory neglect. Lesion-induced deficits in spatial memory were significantly attenuated in EE rats. In addition, sensory neglect was reduced in EE rats relative to non-enriched animals. The second experiment was aimed at identifying a specific mode of EE that could be realistically applied to healthy human adults to improve cognitive performance. Motor skills training (MST) is a specific form of exercise that offers neurological benefits including synaptogenesis, cerebellar angiogenesis, motor cortex strengthening and reorganization, and hippocampal neurogenesis. Adult male rats were trained for four weeks then behaviorally tested to assess memory, anxiety, and exploratory behavior. MST significantly improved subsequent performance on tasks of spatial memory. MST also reduced anxiety-like behavior. Both EE and MST experiments provide behavioral data to support non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical training techniques that provide numerous functional benefits. Various biomarkers of stress, plasticity and inflammation were explored as pote (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: James Herman PhD (Committee Chair); Catherine Harrison PhD (Committee Member); James Eliassen PhD (Committee Member); Silvana Obici MD (Committee Member); Kim Seroogy PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Neurology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, Music

Two studies examined the influence of mental imagery type and instruments' tone-decay times on tempo fluctuations between repeated rehearsals and performances of musical works. The first experimental study tested the predictions that 1) motor imagery – in contrast to non-motor imagery – would lead to smaller discrepancies between imagined and performed tempos; and 2) musical works having high note density would tend to be slowed down when imagined, whereas works having low note density would tend to be sped up when imagined. The second correlational study tested the prediction that the same work would exhibit significant changes of average tempo when performed on instruments having different tone-decay times. In the first study, musicians performed slow and fast musical excerpts either vocally or on their major instrument. These excerpts were recorded. Then, each participant repeatedly attempted to mentally replicate their excerpts' tempos by using motor or non-motor imagery. Excerpt beginnings were signaled by three-second prompts from the recordings of each excerpt, and participants indicated excerpt endings by ringing a call bell. Excerpt duration discrepancies were calculated by subtracting the performed excerpt length from the imagined excerpt length. The results did not yield support for either of our hypotheses. There was no significant difference of tempo discrepancies when using motor versus non-motor imagery; and there was no significant main effect of variable note density on tempo discrepancies. Post hoc analyses suggested that successive mental rehearsals might lead to smaller and less variable tempo discrepancies across musicians of diverse skill levels. Other post hoc analyses suggested that repeated practice attempts might improve or at least maintain tempo accuracy, except in music exhibiting low note density – below approximately 1.5 notes-per-second. However, musicians do not seem to have immediate conscious access to the gains or losses of temp (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: David Huron PhD (Advisor); Lora Gingerich Dobos PhD (Committee Member); David Clampitt PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Music; Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2005, Speech Pathology and Audiology

Motor learning literature demonstrates that training in a specific motor movement can improve performance for that movement and other similar tasks. Vocalises are exercises used in vocal training to improve quality and precision in singing performance. It was hypothesized that a short-term training program using a specific vocalise would improve singing performance on the practiced vocalise and vocalises of similar and greater complexity. Twelve female sopranos were divided into two groups, only one of which completed the short-term vocalises training program. Performance was assessed for pitch and rhythm accuracy. Results indicated that the group that completed the short-term training program did not significantly improve their pitch and rhythm accuracy on the three vocalises compared to the group that did not complete the training. Also, no carryover effect was seen after a 1-week rest-period for either group. This study demonstrates that short-term training in vocalises may not improve motor performance.

Committee: Susan Baker (Advisor) Subjects: Health Sciences, Speech Pathology

Master of Sciences (Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, 2012, EMC - Mechanical Engineering

This thesis presents computer vision algorithms and associated applications for automating cognitive and motor skill assessments. These assessments are used to diagnose cognitive and motor impairments and behavioral problems. Due to the high prevalence of such disorders and the limitation of traditional diagnosis methods, there is an urgent need for improved approaches. Automation through computer vision enables low cost comprehensive assessments that can be more extensively implemented, further precision in measurement, provide quantitative behavioral and performance data, record results electronically, and allow professionals to concentrate on other assessment factors. The presented algorithms include wrist tracking, object recognition and tracking, and gaze detection. These algorithms are applied to create an automated version of the Wechsler's Block Design subtest, kinematical modeling of the upper extremities, methods of path accuracy evaluation, an automated system for the Soda Pop Coordination Test, a tracking/scoring system for Cup Stacking, and a demonstration of gaze tracking.

Committee: Kiju Lee (Committee Chair); Merat Francis (Committee Member); Newman Wyatt (Committee Member); Prahl Joseph (Committee Member) Subjects: Computer Engineering; Computer Science; Mechanical Engineering; Psychological Tests; Psychology

Master of Arts, Miami University, 2013, Art

An issue that the users face when employing a controller in virtual environments (VE), is effectively using the afforded actions necessary for task-relevant goal achievement. A virtual reality game was used to investigate the link between the physical constraints of a controller-interface, the behavioral (postural) control strategies that develop and subsequent performance within the VE. Postural motion was examined using a motion capture system, and the differences that emerged as a result of the controller interface-order using various synchronicity-non-linear procedures. A significant interaction was found between user performance and controller-interface order. These findings suggest that the constraints of the controller does not necessarily create performance differences at face value though the increase or decrement of performance is grounded on how the user gains information through interacting with the specific controller interface as well as how that interaction shapes their ability to learn, adapt, and develop successful, relevant control strategies.

Committee: Leonard Smart Jr./PhD (Advisor); Leonard Mark PhD (Committee Member); David Waller PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Behavioral Psychology; Cognitive Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Vision Science

Bioptic telescopic spectacles (BTS) allow people with vision impairment to obtain driving licensure even when their visual acuity does not meet normal state standards. BTS are spectacles with a small telescope implanted in one or both of the lenses. The telescope is used for brief periods during driving to spot distant targets such as road signs and traffic signals. The study described in this dissertation examines visual and demographic associations among obtaining a bioptic driving license, training and road testing results, and motor vehicle collisions in patients with low vision. The study also compares the collision rate of bioptic drivers to that of a control group of non-bioptic drivers matched on age and sex. A retrospective study of medical records was completed for patients examined for entry into the Ohio bioptic driving program at the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University over a five year period. Data were collected on visual factors, documented driver training, licensure testing results, and post-licensure driving record. No significant associations were found among visual and demographic factors and obtaining licensure after an initial vision examination. Several factors were significantly associated with the amount of training documented for candidates for licensure, including age and previous non-bioptic driving experience. The amount of training documented was associated with road testing results, but not with driving safety after licensure. Previous driving experience was also significantly associated with occurrence of motor vehicle collisions (MVC) in bioptic drivers, with drivers without previous experience having approximately 2.5 times as many collisions per year of licensure than those with previous experience. Other significant associations with MVC in bioptic drivers included age and the number of non-collision related convictions. Nystagmus was independently associated with MVC, but no other patient visual factors w (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Thomas Raasch (Advisor) Subjects: Biomedical Research; Health Sciences; Ophthalmology; Optics; Public Health; Public Policy; Transportation