StimuLOOP: Precision sensorimotor neurorehabilitation through personalized stimulation loops

Problem Severe impairment of gait behavior in stroke and Parkinson’s patients

Goal Personalized neurorehabilitation combined with sensory stimulation and memory consolidation during sleep

With the StimuLOOP project, the research team led by Andreas Luft and Roger Gassert aims to help patients affected by stroke or Parkinson’s disease regain their normal walking ability as efficiently as possible.

The project incorporates novel technologies, including a visual feedback system that supports patients in learning a gait pattern tailored to their individual needs. In addition, a combination of acoustic stimulation during training and targeted auditory cues during sleep is designed to support long-term consolidation of newly learned motor patterns.

In the first phase, the project’s various complementary modules were synchronized. These include detailed gait pattern analysis, the development of a training setup with realistic visual feedback, and acoustic stimulation that is synchronized with EEG signals during sleep. Disease-specific features were also addressed, such as motor blocks (freezing) in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Groups involved:

• Andreas Luft: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich
• Roger Gassert: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
• Christian Baumann: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich
• Reto Huber: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich
• William Taylor: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
• Julia Vogt: Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich

Junior PIs:

• Chris Awai: Data Analytics & Rehabilitation Technology, Lake Lucerne Institute
• Meret Branscheidt: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich
• Olivier Lambercy: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
• Angelina Maric: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich