SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION

The foundation of all neurological performance is understanding where you are in relation to the world. We do this using visual inputs from our eyes, vestibular inputs from our inner ear, and proprioceptive inputs from muscles and joints. All of these systems must be able to integrate with each other before any motor task can be properly executed. This integration determines the ultimate level of all motor performance, as well as that of many cognitive processes.

We use a number of different software and hardware platforms to evaluate these systems and their integration, including the NeuroSensorimotor Integrator, the Sanet Vision Integrator, and the Interactive Metronome. These devices help us see exactly how well your vision, auditory, vestibular and proprioceptive systems are working with each other, and show us any systems that need improvement. We can then use these platforms to rehabilitate your systems and their integration, so you can get back to living your best life.

Poor function of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems can be found at the heart of most central neurological disorders. The consequences of poor function and integration of these systems can produce symptoms ranging from dizziness and balance problems to headaches and chronic pain states. Poor integration of these systems can be found in everything from attention and concentration problems to movement disorders.   Rehabilitation of these systems and their integration can help improve function in all of these disorders. Impaired sensorimotor integration is seen in a wide range of neurological conditions, including:

Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries | Dizziness and Vertigo | Headaches and Migraines | Neurodegenerative Disorders | Chronic Pain | Movement Disorders | Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Dysautonomia | Strokes and Vascular Disorders | Peripheral Nervous System Disorders | Mental Health Conditions

Both the NeuroSensorimotor Integrator and Sanet Vision Integrator systems rely on a large computer touchscreen.  You will be performing a series of tasks that involve a visual stimulus on the screen that will require a specific motor response. These tasks range from touching dots that pop up on the screen as fast as possible, to remembering where a target appeared in a sequence and touching that portion of the screen. The tasks may also involve you standing on a force plate that tracks your center of mass as you move this around to hit targets on the screen. 

Each task is designed to assess a specific set of sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities. They output their results in terms of accuracy, reaction time, and time to completion. 

Every one of these tasks can be used as a training tool. We use your individual test scores to determine a training protocol that helps rehabilitate all of your functions and their integration in as short a time as possible.

Interactive Metronome testing involves the precise measurement of your motor planning timing error. You wear a set of headphones and a trigger device on your hand, with a foot trigger on the ground. The headphones provide you with a click track, and you are given a set of simple motor tasks to perform, such as clapping or tapping your foot on the beat. The computer reads your responses, compares them with the timing of the click track, and determines your timing error in milliseconds.  This device and also be used to rehabilitate motor planning and motor timing. These are not only involved in motor performance, but in many cognitive skills as well.