Sensory Stimulation for Augmenting Perception, Sensorimotor Behavior and Cognition

Learning without Training

“…It is generally agreed that processes allowing modification of synaptic efficacy are the neural substrates for learning. Studies on synaptic plasticity use temporally specific stimulation protocols to induce long-lasting changes in synaptic transmission, but the implications of this requirement for temporally specific protocols in everyday learning remain unclear [9][10][11][12][13]. For example, for training-and practice-based learning to occur, sensory inputs are modified in their frequency, temporal pattern, the number of stimuli and their duration, form, size and intensity.…”

“…Numerous investigations have demonstrated that human perception and behaviour can change without training, simply via exposure to sensory stimulation protocols for a few minutes to a few hours [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. All these investigations have taken the approach of directly influencing human perception and behaviour by using stimulation protocols known to induce plastic changes at the cellular level [10][11][12][13]21]. The idea is to translate protocols that induce plasticity at a cellular level into sensory stimulation protocols (Figure 1).…”

“…However, the lack of adequate input stimuli for the induction of LTP and LTD in humans has hindered direct evaluation of the impact of such protocols on human behaviour. The basic principle underlying training-independent sensory learning is to use our broad knowledge of brain plasticity to design specific stimulation protocols that allow us to change brain organization and, thus, perception and behaviour [10]. Training-independent sensory learning has the unique advantage of offering complete control of the timing and spatiotemporal allocation of the stimulation.…”

Electrostimulation in medicine - history and contemporary usage

“…On the basis of historical evidences and nowadays experience one can prove the effectiveness of electrostimulation in various diseases. Electrostimulation is widely used in physiotherapeutical treatments as well as in psychiatry and neurological ailments [25][26]. The main idea of electric stimulation is to input electric current into the body.…”

Plastizität durch sensorische Stimulation: Lernen und Rehabilitation

“…In einer Serie von Untersuchungen wurden daher weitere taktile, haptische und sensomotorische Fähigkei-ten auf ihre Veränderbarkeit durch TISL getestet, die die Ausgangshypothese bestätigten. So verbesserte n sich die taktile Diskriminationsfähigkeit, die Frequenzdiskrimination, Punkt-Muster-Diskrimination, haptische Objektwahrnehmung, Reaktionszeiten bis hin zu sensomotorischem Verhalten wie beispielsweise Fingergeschicklichkeit [ 4 ]. Diese breite Generalisierung positiver Effekte macht den Einsatz von TISL -Protokolle n naturgemäß besonders geeignet für Therapie und Intervention nach Hirnschädigungen.…”