Electrophysiologic behavior modification of frontal EMG in cerebral-palsied children

Abstract

Four cerebral-palsied children participated in the following ABAB design: speech and motor pre-electrophysiologic behavior modification (EMB) evaluation; frontal EMG EMB, six weeks; speech and motor post-EBM evaluation; six weeks no training; speech and motor reevaluation; EMG EBM, four weeks; speech and motor evaluation. Auditory and visual feedback of frontal EMG was monitored by cumulative integration of frontal EMG voltage. The children were shaped by setting a cumulative voltage threshold (CVT). If the child's cumulative integrated frontal EMG voltage fell below the CVT at the end of each 60-sec epoch, a reward was automatically dispensed from a Universal Feeder. Frontal EMG decreased significantly over the initial twelve trials. Correspondingly, improvement was noted for the children in speech and motor skills. Follow-up six weeks later showed increased frontal EMG voltage and deterioration of speech and motor function. Reinstitution of frontal EMG EBM produced reacquisition of low frontal EMG and some recovery of speech and motor function. Collectively, these results indicate that frontal EMG EBM shows promise as an additional treatment modality in the habilitation of cerebral palsy children with spasticity.