Leo Fabrizio, Tinti Carla, Chiesa Silvia, Cavaglià Roberta, Schmidt Susanna, Cocchi Elena, Brayda Luca
Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences department, Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy.
SAGE Open Med. 2018 Dec 18;6:2050312118820028. doi: 10.1177/2050312118820028. eCollection 2018.
To investigate whether training with tactile matrices displayed with a programmable tactile display improves recalling performance of spatial images in blind, low-vision and sighted youngsters. To code and understand the behavioral underpinnings of learning two-dimensional tactile dispositions, in terms of spontaneous exploration strategies.
Three groups of blind, low-vision and sighted youngsters between 6 and 18 years old performed four training sessions with a weekly schedule in which they were asked to memorize single or double spatial layouts, featured as two-dimensional matrices.
Results showed that all groups of participants significantly improved their recall performance compared to the first session baseline in the single-matrix task. No statistical difference in performance between groups emerged in this task. Instead, the learning effect in visually impaired participants is reduced in the double-matrix task, whereas it is still robust in blindfolded sighted controls. We also coded tactile exploration strategies in both tasks and their correlation with performance. Sighted youngsters, in particular, favored a proprioceptive exploration strategy. Finally, performance in the double-matrix task negatively correlated with using one hand and positively correlated with a proprioceptive strategy.
The results of our study indicate that blind persons do not easily process two separate spatial layouts. However, rehabilitation programs promoting bi-manual and proprioceptive approaches to tactile exploration might help improve spatial abilities. Finally, programmable tactile displays are an effective way to make spatial and graphical configurations accessible to visually impaired youngsters and they can be profitably exploited in rehabilitation.
研究使用可编程触觉显示器呈现的触觉矩阵进行训练是否能提高盲童、低视力儿童和视力正常儿童对空间图像的回忆表现。从自发探索策略的角度对学习二维触觉布局的行为基础进行编码和理解。
三组年龄在6至18岁之间的盲童、低视力儿童和视力正常儿童，每周进行一次，共进行四次训练课程，要求他们记忆以二维矩阵形式呈现的单空间布局或双空间布局。
结果显示，在单矩阵任务中，与第一次训练的基线相比，所有参与者组的回忆表现均有显著提高。在该任务中，各组之间的表现没有统计学差异。相反，在双矩阵任务中，视力受损参与者的学习效果有所降低，而在蒙眼的视力正常对照组中，学习效果仍然显著。我们还对两个任务中的触觉探索策略及其与表现的相关性进行了编码。特别是视力正常的儿童更倾向于本体感觉探索策略。最后，双矩阵任务中的表现与单手使用呈负相关，与本体感觉策略呈正相关。
我们的研究结果表明，盲人不容易处理两个独立的空间布局。然而，促进双手和本体感觉触觉探索方法的康复计划可能有助于提高空间能力。最后，可编程触觉显示器是让视力受损儿童能够接触到空间和图形配置的有效方式，并且可以在康复中得到有效利用。
