Development of a sensorimotor E-piano for the improvement of hand motor skills in children with neuroorthopedic diseases and cerebral palsy

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Renée Lampe
• Subject Area: Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology
• Term: from 2014 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 255752606

Patients with an early brain damage caused by cerebral palsy show hand sensorimotor deficits as a result of increased muscle tone and incorrect innervation of the hand and forearm muscles required for voluntary movements. To improve functional motor skills of paretic hands, a preliminary study was performed, in which children received intensive piano training by a professional pianist in during 1.5 years. During the study it became apparent that the disability induced not only motor restrictions but influenced also the childrens ability to decode the abstract music notes because of their cognitive deficits. Moreover, the allocation and movement of single fingers were a difficult task for the children with sensorimotor deficits. To overcome these problems, two E-Pianos are planned to be modified into sensorimotor Pianos. Herewith, both pianos will be coupled such that a keystroke made by the piano teacher will light up the corresponding piano key at the piano of the pupil. Additionally, a communication between the hands of the teacher and the pupil will be established. This will be done using small vibration transducers that will be fixed on every finger of adapted gloves or directly on the pupils fingers with a hook-and-pile tape. On every keystroke by the teacher, the pupil will see the corresponding piano key lighting and he will receive a vibrating pulse in the corresponding finger. The acoustic feedback received will further help the pupil to adjust the finger movement and play a whole piano piece. This easier learning method is expected to produce faster results compared to the previous therapy method that used a regular piano. On one side, regular piano training will help to improve hand motor abilities. Nerve cells in the motorcortex will be stimulated due to fine motor movements of the fingers and new connections to other nerve cells can arise.On the other side the learning of music pieces will likely be more effective due to the multiple means of communication between the teacher and the pupil, available in the modified E-pianos, and the acoustic feedback. This will lead to a more rapid success and to an increase of interest and enjoyment of music. The participation of people with disabilities in social and culture life is rightly claimed by the WHO. The integration of people with disabilities is a whole-society task with especially significant requirements from the medicine and therapy disciplines. For the reasons indicated above and the experience from previous studies, the purposed therapy with a specially developed pupil-teacher-piano constitutes a serious and worthwhile attempt to contribute to the motor and personal development of children with disabilities.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants