This study aims to explore the impact of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) on brain signal complexity in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) by analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) entropy. MCS patients typically exhibit reduced brain entropy compared to healthy individuals, indicating lower brain complexity. The study will assess whether AAT can enhance this complexity, which is crucial for understanding consciousness levels. Entropy, a measure of randomness in brain activity, will be used to evaluate AAT's effectiveness. In addition, electrocardiography (ECG), electrodermal activity (EDA) and behavioral measurements will also be collected.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
26
AAT is an ergotherapy including an animal. AAT is a specific type of Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) with a therapeutic aim.
REHAB Basel
Basel, Switzerland
RECRUITINGService de Neurorééducation, Hopitaux Universitaires Genevois
Geneva, Switzerland
RECRUITINGEEG signal complexity 1
The EEG signal complexity is measured via entropy computed based on EEG recordings: • Sample Entropy (SampEn): score usually between 0 and 1 with higher score indicating higher entropy
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
EEG signal complexity 2
The EEG signal complexity is measured via entropy computed based on EEG recordings: • Lempel-Ziv complexity (LCZ): score usually between 0 and 1 with higher score indicating higher entropy
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
EEG signal complexity 3
The EEG signal complexity is measured via three measures of entropy computed based on EEG recordings: • Symbolic Transfer Entropy (STE): score usually between 0 and 1 with higher score indicating higher entropy
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
Other physiological measures 1
• Heart rate (HR) in bpm
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
Other physiological measures 2
• Heart rate variability (HRV) measured by complexity index (CI): score usually between 0 and 1 with higher score indicating higher complexity
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
Other physiological measures 3
• Electrodermal activity (EDA) in uS
Time frame: Before, during and after AAT and TAU. Approximately three weeks.
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