This page displays the main (collaborative) projects that involve the Psy-NAPS research group.
Projects that include 2040 in the title are long-term projects.
The different collaborators involved in these projects are as follows (alphabetic order):
Projects that include 2040 in the title are long-term projects.
The different collaborators involved in these projects are as follows (alphabetic order):
- Bruno Dehez (UCL, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering)
- Benoit Herman (Coordinator)
- Thierry Lejeune (UCL, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc)
- Bénédicte Leonard (UCL, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc)
- Benoît Macq (UCL, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering)
- Julien Sapin (Axinesis)
- Gaëtan Stoquart (UCL, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc)
- Yves Vandermeeren (UCL, CHU Mont-Godinne)
Neuro-Rehab 2040
Neuro-Rehab 2040 is a project that aims to radically develop the rehabilitation of patients with acquired brain damage. The project uses recent advances in technology and serious gaming to develop rehabilitation exercises that are tailored to the level of individual patients. The serious games use an algorithm that moderates game difficulty on the basis of measured performance, providing a combined rehabilitation and diagnosis tool (with the algorithm defining the measure). In addition, the project aims to deliver rich information to the clinician by means of an automated reporting system. Further, by combining neural measures to treatment outcome, we aim to provide prediction analyses of treatment efficacy on the basis of brain lesion location.
The project involves three phases. The first and second phase develops interactive robotic treatments for acute and sub-acute patients (days 1-10 and days 10-100 post brain injury) that is intended for hospital based treatment. The third phase develops interactive virtual reality treatments for chronic patients (days 30+ post brain injury) that is intended for use in the patient's home. In all three phases, the treatment uses motivating serious games that transfer across the three phases of treatment. The games adapt to the patient's abilities, maintaining the patient's motivation at the same time as providing a targeted rehabilitative exercise.
The project involves three phases. The first and second phase develops interactive robotic treatments for acute and sub-acute patients (days 1-10 and days 10-100 post brain injury) that is intended for hospital based treatment. The third phase develops interactive virtual reality treatments for chronic patients (days 30+ post brain injury) that is intended for use in the patient's home. In all three phases, the treatment uses motivating serious games that transfer across the three phases of treatment. The games adapt to the patient's abilities, maintaining the patient's motivation at the same time as providing a targeted rehabilitative exercise.
Advances in Cognitive Evaluation (ACE 2040)
Traditional cognitive measures involve paper and pencil tasks that typically evaluate the ability to select a correct response. Impairments in cognition are typically defined by incorrect responses or omissions. In this project, we develop new cognitive tests that additionally measure response time / response behaviours, providing increased sensitivity and validity to the measures. We have four related projects that are described below.
The first project aims to develop self report measures of cognitive ability. For example, lead by Emilie Lacroix, we recently developed the Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory that assesses physical, cognitive and emotional behaviours that may be reduced in patients with vertigo. The questionnaire is fully validated and consists of 32 questions, each with as a 5-point response Likert scale. The aim of the evaluation is to understand the the cognitive problems that patients experience.
The second project aims to develop a cognitive screen that is particularly sensitive to measuring mild cognitive impairments. This project consists of three separate sub-projects: (i) cognitive evaluation of vestibular patients; (ii) cognitive assessment of sleep apnea patients, and; (iii) a serious game driving simulator for measures of cognition. All three projects are lead by Emilie Lacroix, and all provide a range of computerised cognitive tests that run on a tablet or smart-phone.
The third project involves the development of a visual spatial evaluation for hemineglect. The MonAmour test, lead by Vincenza Montedoro and Marie Alsamour can be used to evaluate hemineglect in children and in adults (tested with Cerebral Palsy children and CVA patients). The test involves looking for a single target displayed amongst distractor items. The objective of the test is to measure the time taken for the participant to find the target, with lateralised differences being used to define hemineglect. The test is suitable for measuring egocentric and allocentric perceptual hemineglect on a tablet based version, and in addition, motor hemineglect on a robot based version. The test is currently being adapted to run in virtual reality.
The fourth project measures visual spatial attention using scene perception and eye-tracking. Participants are asked to find an object in a scene. If someone has an impairment in visual spatial attention, they may be slower or they may show more variable search paths in order to see the target item within the scene. Importantly, the test relies on visual gaze information rather than verbal or manual responses, making the test suitable to a wider range of CVA patients. Deficits in visual spatial attention are defined by differences in attention gaze patterns.
The first project aims to develop self report measures of cognitive ability. For example, lead by Emilie Lacroix, we recently developed the Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory that assesses physical, cognitive and emotional behaviours that may be reduced in patients with vertigo. The questionnaire is fully validated and consists of 32 questions, each with as a 5-point response Likert scale. The aim of the evaluation is to understand the the cognitive problems that patients experience.
The second project aims to develop a cognitive screen that is particularly sensitive to measuring mild cognitive impairments. This project consists of three separate sub-projects: (i) cognitive evaluation of vestibular patients; (ii) cognitive assessment of sleep apnea patients, and; (iii) a serious game driving simulator for measures of cognition. All three projects are lead by Emilie Lacroix, and all provide a range of computerised cognitive tests that run on a tablet or smart-phone.
The third project involves the development of a visual spatial evaluation for hemineglect. The MonAmour test, lead by Vincenza Montedoro and Marie Alsamour can be used to evaluate hemineglect in children and in adults (tested with Cerebral Palsy children and CVA patients). The test involves looking for a single target displayed amongst distractor items. The objective of the test is to measure the time taken for the participant to find the target, with lateralised differences being used to define hemineglect. The test is suitable for measuring egocentric and allocentric perceptual hemineglect on a tablet based version, and in addition, motor hemineglect on a robot based version. The test is currently being adapted to run in virtual reality.
The fourth project measures visual spatial attention using scene perception and eye-tracking. Participants are asked to find an object in a scene. If someone has an impairment in visual spatial attention, they may be slower or they may show more variable search paths in order to see the target item within the scene. Importantly, the test relies on visual gaze information rather than verbal or manual responses, making the test suitable to a wider range of CVA patients. Deficits in visual spatial attention are defined by differences in attention gaze patterns.
Perception and Action (P&A 2040)
The Psy-NAPS group has a long history of research investigating the cognitive processes of perception and action behaviour. This research typically involves manipulating perception and measuring how the manipulation influences action (and vice versa, how manipulations in action influence perception). In this project, there are three sub-projects. These are explained below.
The first project is based around neuropsychology, and testing patients who have an impairment in perception or action, and measuring how the impairment influences perception and action. For example, in a recent project with Emilie Lacroix, we investigate how vestibular impairments influence perception and action cognition. In another project, we investigate how action hemiparesis influences perception.
The second project involves action priming. In this project, perception stimuli are manipulated in order to prime action. In a project lead by Pïerre Mengal, we investigate how manipulation of object features or environments afford action. In other projects, we have investigated how the observation or imagination of action can prime subsequent action. Cédric Gaudissart is currently leading a project that investigates how motor imagery can be used to facilitate action performance in situations of pressure.
The third project investigates embodiment cognition. This is the idea that we perceive the world through the capabilities of our body. To investigate this concept, we manipulate actions and measure the influence of the manipulation on perception. For example, we recently used our interactive robot to make actions more difficult, and we found that the perception of space changed. Similarly, we also found that if we gave participants larger bodies in a Virtual Reality interaction task, this manipulation also influenced the perception of space.
The first project is based around neuropsychology, and testing patients who have an impairment in perception or action, and measuring how the impairment influences perception and action. For example, in a recent project with Emilie Lacroix, we investigate how vestibular impairments influence perception and action cognition. In another project, we investigate how action hemiparesis influences perception.
The second project involves action priming. In this project, perception stimuli are manipulated in order to prime action. In a project lead by Pïerre Mengal, we investigate how manipulation of object features or environments afford action. In other projects, we have investigated how the observation or imagination of action can prime subsequent action. Cédric Gaudissart is currently leading a project that investigates how motor imagery can be used to facilitate action performance in situations of pressure.
The third project investigates embodiment cognition. This is the idea that we perceive the world through the capabilities of our body. To investigate this concept, we manipulate actions and measure the influence of the manipulation on perception. For example, we recently used our interactive robot to make actions more difficult, and we found that the perception of space changed. Similarly, we also found that if we gave participants larger bodies in a Virtual Reality interaction task, this manipulation also influenced the perception of space.
Immersive Virtual Environment Laboratory (IVE Lab)
The collaboration develops interactive virtual reality, where a person physically moves and they see their movement within a virtual environment. The project develops real-time synchrony between actual and virtual actions. Using various manipulations, we can then alter embodied actions and measure the effects on spatial perception (and vice versa). We can apply these same manipulations to treat patients with visual spatial interaction impairments.
Lip Motion Tracking
The project involves the development of a new lip motion tracking system for the measurement of speech action. In the first phases of the Lip Motion Tracking System (LMTS) development, we have validated the measures with existing motion tracking equipment. We now investigate how the LMTS could be used to diagnose speech deficits. We are also using the equipment to investigate speech priming (i.e., where speech action can be primed from the observation of speech.
Louvain Bionics (Website)
Louvain Bionics is an interdisciplinary center of expertise consisting of UCL researchers from the sectors of science and technology, medical sciences and humanities sciences whose interests include movement and robotic assistance, the enhancement of knowledge and skills in areas such as surgical assistance, diagnosis and rehabilitation. The ambition of Louvain Bionics is to allow the patient to benefit from the best research advances in robotic sciences and technology, and more generally, bionics.
The main advantage provided by Louvain Bionics within a comprehensive university such as UCL is to investigate and validate medical devices from laboratory to bedside, by a process of translational and multidisciplinary research based on constant interaction between designers, researchers and users. The devices can then be improved based on practice in the field and customized by taking into account the specific needs of patients and clinicians.
For the Psy-NAPS involvement with Louvain Bionics, the main collaborators are as follows :
The main advantage provided by Louvain Bionics within a comprehensive university such as UCL is to investigate and validate medical devices from laboratory to bedside, by a process of translational and multidisciplinary research based on constant interaction between designers, researchers and users. The devices can then be improved based on practice in the field and customized by taking into account the specific needs of patients and clinicians.
For the Psy-NAPS involvement with Louvain Bionics, the main collaborators are as follows :
- Benoit Herman (Coordinator of Louvain Bionics)
- Bruno Dehez (Sector of Science and Technology)
- Benoît Macq (Sector of Science and Technology)
- Renaud Ronsse (Sector of Science and Technology)
- Philippe Lefèvre (Sector of Science and Technology)
- Thierry Lejeune (Sector of Health Sciences)
- Gaëtan Stoquart (Sector of Health Sciences)
- Yves Vandermeeren (Sector of Health Sciences)
- Yannick Bleyenheuft (Sector of Health Sciences)
- Jean-Louis Thonnard (Sector of Health Sciences)