목적 : 본 연구의 목적은 뇌병변 장애인의 기초 인지지각과 운전적성 능력과의 관련성을 알아보고 운전능력 향상을 위해 인지지각 훈련의 중요성을 제시하고자 하였다. 연구방법 : 2011년 1월부터 2011년 9월까지 N원 운전평가 클리닉에서 가상현실운전시뮬레이터를 이용한 운전평가가 의뢰된 뇌병변 장애인 31명을 대상으로 K-MMSE (Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination)와 MVPT(Motor-free Visual Perception Test)를 이용한 기초 인지지각능력검사를 실시하였고, 가상현실 운전시뮬레이터를 이용한 운전 적성검사를 실시하였다. 결과 : K-MMSE 총점과 운전적성검사 영역의 반응시간과 동시조작 및 종합적 태도력, MVPT 총점과는 핸들조작 및 판단력, 동시조작 및 종합적 태도력에서 통계적으로 유의한 상관성을 보였다. 결론 : 기초 인지지각이 운전적성 및 운전수행에 영향을 준다는 것을 예측할 수 있었고, 따라서 운전수행 기술 향상을 위한 인지지각 향상 훈련이 중요함을 제시할 수 있었다. 또한, 현재 국내 인지재활치료 현장에서 운전이라는 특성화된 수행 영역에 적합한 인지지각 평가 도구 및 인지지각 훈련 프로그램이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

It is known that individual factors as cognitive, perception, emotion, and motivation may greatly influence on recovery from neurologic region. This study was to investigate the effects of environmental reinforcement through motivation to perform the tasks voluntarily on motor and cognition function in rats with focal ischemic brain injury. Focal ischemic brain injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats (15 rats, 250±50 g) through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). And then, experiment groups were randomly divided into three groups; The control group: MCAo induction (n1=5), the environmental reinforcement (ER) group: the application for ER after MCAo induction (n2=5), the environmental reinforcement through motivation (ERM) group: the application for ERM after MCAo induction (n3=5). The climbing test (CT) and the modified limb placing tests (MLPTs) to measure the motor function and the Morris water maze acquisition test (MWMAT) and the Morris water maze retention test (MWMRT) to measure the cognitive function were performed. For the CT, the ERM group was significantly larger than the ER group. For the MLPTs, the ERM group was significantly decreased compared to other groups. For the MWMAT, the time to find the circular platform in the ERM group significantly decreased compared to other groups. For the MWMRT, the time to dwell on the quadrant circular platform in the ERM group was significantly increased compared to other groups. These results suggested that the ERM could improve the motor and cognitive functions in the rats with focal ischemic brain injury.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the task-oriented training according to the application time with the change of motor and cognition function. Focal ischemic brain injury was produced in Sprague-Dawley rats (20 rats, 250±50 g) through middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Before MCAo induction, all rats were trained in treadmill training and Morris water maze training for 1 week. Then they were randomly divided into groups: Group I : MCAo induction (n1=5), Grop II: the application for simple treadmill task training after. MCAo induction (n2=5). Group III: the application for Morris water maze cognitive task training after MCAo induction (n3=5). Group IV: the application for progressive treadmill task training and Morris water maze cognitive task training after MCAo induction (n4=5). Modified limb placing tests (MLPTs) and motor tests (MTs) were performed to test motor function and then Morris water maze acquisition test (MWMAT) and Morris water maze retention test (MWMRT) were performed to test cognitive function. For MTs, there were significant interactions among the groups with the time (p<.001). Group IV showed the steeper increasing pattern than those in other Groups on the 7th and 14th day. For MLPTs, there were significant interactions among the groups with the time (p<.001). The scores in Group III. IV had showed the more decreasing pattern than those in Group I, II since the 7th day and 14th day. For MWMAT, there were significant interactions among the groups with the time (p<.001). Group II found the Quadrant circular platform showed the steeper decreasing pattern than that in Group I on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th day. Group III. IV found the quadrant circular platform showed the slower decreasing pattern than that in Group I, II, For MWMRT, there were significant differences among the four groups (p<.001). The time to dwell on quadrant circular platform in Group IV on the 13th day was the longest compared with other groups. These results suggested that the combined task training was very effective to improve the motor and cognition function for the rats affected on their focal ischemic brain injury.

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Korean Computerized Neuro-psychological Test in measurement of cognitive functioning in patients with brain damage. Methods: Eight tests of Korean Computerized Neuro-psychological Test, (1) Simple Reaction time, (2) Choice Reaction time, (3) Color Word Vigilance, (4) Digit Classification, (5) Digit Addition, (6) Symbol Digit Substitution, (7) Digit Span, (8)Finger Tapping Speed, were administered to the 30 patients who had impairments in cognitive function. Mini Mental State Examination-K (MMSE-K), and Purdue Pegboard Test were also administered compare with the computerized tests. Results: It was found that Choice Reaction time, Color Word Vigilance, Digit Classification, Digit Addition, Symbol digit Substitution, and Digit Span of computerized tests were acceptable in the patients who had MMSE-K score of 20 and more than 20. And Simple Reaction Time was found to be a useful test in the patients with MMSE-K score of less than 20. MMSE-K scores were highly correlated with Choice Reaction time, Color Word Vigilance, Digit Classification, Digit Span of computerized test. The scores of Purdue Pegboard were also highly correlated with the scores of Finger Tapping Speed, In computerized tests, Choice Reaction time, Color Word Vigilance, Digit Classification, and Digit Span were correlated with each other. Conclusions: The results suggested that Korean Computerized Neuro-psychological Test was found to be a useful test in measurement and rehabilitation of patients with cognitive impairments.