Motor and Cognitive Functions in Acquired and Developmental Brain Damaged Patients

Studies of the Diagnosis, Rehabilitation and Links Between Motor and Cognitive Functions in Acquired and Developmental Brain Damaged Patients

Neurological pathologies cause important and permanent disabilities in every day life. These pathologies can follow stoke, affecting two people per one thousand each year or cerebral palsy, affecting two births per one thousand each year. To date, the diagnosis and the rehabilitation of motor and cognitive problems has been carried out separately by different domains. For example, physiotherapists have focused on motor problems and neuropsychologists have focused on cognitive functions. However, a number of studies have demonstrated a link between motor and cognitive abilities in adults and children. The present study has three main aims: (1) to better evaluate motor and cognitive problems in brain damaged patients (all ages), (2) to understand the link between motor and cognitive abilities in patients and healthy participants and, (3) to propose new types of therapies based on the link between motor and cognitive functions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Congenital cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury children and adult patients
• Presenting upper limb paresis and/or hemineglect
• Between the age of 3 to 90.
• Able to understand and carry out simple verbal instruction

Exclusion Criteria:

• IQ < 70
• Severe aphasia, attentional disorder or psychiatric disorders
• Neurodegenerative disorders