The medical avatar and its role in neurorehabilitation and neuroplasticity: A review

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Mann, Jessie

Affiliations: Virginia Tech Carilion Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, 2 Riverside Cr., Roanoke, VA 24016, USA. Tel.: + 1-201-423-3434; E-mail: mjessie1@vt.edu

Abstract: BACKGROUND:One of the most interesting emerging medical devices is the medical avatar - a digital representation of the patient that can be used toward myriad ends, the full potential of which remains to be explored. Medical avatars have been instantiated as telemedical tools used to establish a representation of the patient in tele-space, upon which data about the patient’s health can be represented and goals and progress can be visually tracked. Manipulation of the medical avatar has also been explored as a means of increasing motivation and inducing neural plasticity. OBJECTIVE:The article reviews the literature on body representation, simulation, and action-observation and explores how these components of neurorehabilitation are engaged by an avatar-based self-representation. METHODS:Through a review of the literature on body representation, simulation, and action-observation and a review of how these components of neurorehabilitation can be engaged and manipulated with an avatar, the neuroplastic potential of the medical avatar is explored. Literature on the use of the medical avatar for neurorehabilitation is also reviewed. RESULTS:This review demonstrates that the medical avatar has vast potentialities in neurorehabilitation and that further research on its use and effect is needed.

Keywords: Telerehabilitation, avatar, neurorehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-203063

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 467-482, 2020