Research

Cognitive dysfunction hampers progress of rehabilitation and achievement of higher quality of life after various brain damages. Research in our department focuses on developing effective rehabilitation techniques for patients with neuropsychological impairments such as aphasia, unilateral spatial neglect, amnesia, and mental retardation. To this purpose, we are also interested in elucidating the mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction and establishing appropriate tests for neuropsychological evaluation.

Outline of Projects

1. Studies on mechanisms underlying unilateral spatial neglect: disorders of spatial attention, mental representation, motor response, and altered interactions between these factors.
2. Development of tools for evaluation and rehabilitation of neglect: experimental and clinical tasks using computerized pointing devices such as touch panel and digitizing tablet.
3. Research on neural mechanism for acoustic and phonemic processing of speech sound.
4. Language development of children with mental retardation.

Behavioural inattention test (BIT) on the computer system with LCD monitor and digitizing tablet.

Development of computerized program for aphasia rehabilitation. This network computer system will help speech rehabilitation of the patients at their own home.

Staff