Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Via Quintino Sella 268, 70100 Bari, Italy.
Res Dev Disabil. 2009 Nov-Dec;30(6):1459-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2009.07.006. Epub 2009 Aug 5.
Intervention programs, based on learning principles and assistive technology, were assessed in two studies with two post-coma men with minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities. Study I assessed a program that included (a) an optic microswitch, activated via double blinking, which allowed a man direct access to brief music intervals, and (b) a voice output communication aid (VOCA) with two channels, activated via different hand-closure movements, which allowed the man to call his mother and a research assistant who provided stimulation events. Study II assessed a program that included (a) a pressure microswitch, activated via head movements, which allowed a man direct access to video-clips and music, and (b) a VOCA device, activated via prolonged eyelid closure, which allowed the man to call the caregiver (i.e., a research assistant) who provided attention and sung to him. Each of the two participants had significant increases in both microswitch- and VOCA-related responses during the intervention phases of the studies. Moreover, purposeful choice seemed to occur between the two VOCA responses in Study I. Implications of the findings for improving the situation of post-coma persons with minimally conscious state and pervasive motor disabilities are discussed.
干预计划基于学习原则和辅助技术，在两项研究中对两名处于最小意识状态和广泛运动障碍的昏迷后男子进行了评估。研究 1 评估了一个包含以下内容的计划：（a）一个光学微开关，通过双重眨眼激活，使男子能够直接访问简短的音乐间隔；（b）一个具有两个通道的语音输出通信辅助设备（VOCA），通过不同的手部闭合动作激活，使男子能够呼叫他的母亲和提供刺激事件的研究助理。研究 2 评估了一个包含以下内容的计划：（a）一个压力微开关，通过头部运动激活，使男子能够直接访问视频剪辑和音乐；（b）一个 VOCA 设备，通过长时间闭眼激活，使男子能够呼叫照顾者（即研究助理），照顾者会给予关注并为他唱歌。在这两项研究的干预阶段，两名参与者的微开关和与 VOCA 相关的反应都有显著增加。此外，在研究 1 中，似乎在两个 VOCA 反应之间进行了有目的的选择。讨论了这些发现对改善昏迷后处于最小意识状态和广泛运动障碍的人的状况的影响。
