The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract The visual system and associated skills are of particular importance in stroke rehabilitation. The process of neuroplasticity involved in restoring cognitive function during this period is mainly based on anatomical and physiological mechanisms. However, there is little evidence-based knowl...

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Main Authors: Marc Niering, Johanna Seifert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01338-5
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author Marc Niering
Johanna Seifert
author_facet Marc Niering
Johanna Seifert
author_sort Marc Niering
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The visual system and associated skills are of particular importance in stroke rehabilitation. The process of neuroplasticity involved in restoring cognitive function during this period is mainly based on anatomical and physiological mechanisms. However, there is little evidence-based knowledge about the effects of visual skills training that could be used to improve therapeutic outcomes in cognitive rehabilitation. A computerized systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases from 1 January 1960 to 11 Febuary 2024. 1,787 articles were identified, of which 24 articles were used for the calculation of weighted standardized mean differences (SMD) after screening and eligibility verification. The findings revealed moderate effects for global cognitive function (SMD = 0.62) and activities of daily living (SMD = 0.55) as well as small effects for executive function (SMD = 0.20) – all in favor of the intervention group. The analyses indicate that the results may not be entirely robust, and should therefore be treated with caution when applied in practice. Visual skills training shows positive effects in improving cognitive and executive functions, especially in combination with high cognitive load and in an early phase of rehabilitation. An improvement in activities of daily living can also be observed with this type of intervention. The high heterogeneity of the studies and different treatment conditions require the identification of a relationship between certain visual skills and executive functions in future research.
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spelling doaj.art-6f93bae87ec24e0883798eadbe1263cd2024-03-31T11:12:14ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032024-03-0121112110.1186/s12984-024-01338-5The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysisMarc Niering0Johanna Seifert1Institute of Biomechanics and Neurosciences, Nordic ScienceInstitute of Biomechanics and Neurosciences, Nordic ScienceAbstract The visual system and associated skills are of particular importance in stroke rehabilitation. The process of neuroplasticity involved in restoring cognitive function during this period is mainly based on anatomical and physiological mechanisms. However, there is little evidence-based knowledge about the effects of visual skills training that could be used to improve therapeutic outcomes in cognitive rehabilitation. A computerized systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases from 1 January 1960 to 11 Febuary 2024. 1,787 articles were identified, of which 24 articles were used for the calculation of weighted standardized mean differences (SMD) after screening and eligibility verification. The findings revealed moderate effects for global cognitive function (SMD = 0.62) and activities of daily living (SMD = 0.55) as well as small effects for executive function (SMD = 0.20) – all in favor of the intervention group. The analyses indicate that the results may not be entirely robust, and should therefore be treated with caution when applied in practice. Visual skills training shows positive effects in improving cognitive and executive functions, especially in combination with high cognitive load and in an early phase of rehabilitation. An improvement in activities of daily living can also be observed with this type of intervention. The high heterogeneity of the studies and different treatment conditions require the identification of a relationship between certain visual skills and executive functions in future research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01338-5Visual skillsCognitive functionExecutive functionStroke rehabilitation
spellingShingle Marc Niering
Johanna Seifert
The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Visual skills
Cognitive function
Executive function
Stroke rehabilitation
title The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
title_full The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
title_fullStr The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
title_short The effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis
title_sort effects of visual skills training on cognitive and executive functions in stroke patients a systematic review with meta analysis
topic Visual skills
Cognitive function
Executive function
Stroke rehabilitation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01338-5
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