Clinical Case Study: The Effects of Task Dynamics and Saltatory Pneumotactile Stimulation on Cerebral Oxygenation, Cognitive Performance, and Sensorimotor Function in an Adult following Left Ischemic MCA Stroke

Authors

• Bridget Slagle, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Steven M. Barlow

Committee Members

Judith Harvey, Yingying Wang

Date of this Version

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Under the supervision of Professor Steven M. Barlow

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2026

Comments

Copyright 2026, Bidget Slagle. Used by permission

Abstract

In the chronic stage of stroke recovery, neuroplasticity is thought to require external influence, and is often considered to be experience-dependent, or “Hebbian,” plasticity. Current studies have been investigating multiple ways to induce plasticity to enhance recovery, including investigating the role of sensory stimulation in cortical priming to enhance the effects of rehabilitation interventions.

This case study of an 80-year-old female with aphasia after L-MCA ischemic stroke included 18 neurotherapeutic sessions over 10 weeks. Each session included pneumotactile somatosensory stimulation to the glabrous hand and perioral face, delivered to both the left and right side via the GALILEO, as well as a battery of behavioral tasks (star drawing, single word reading and repetition, grooved pegboard [left and right hand], and phonemic verbal fluency [F-A-S]). Pneumotactile stimulation was delivered in a random-balanced order either before or after the behavioral tasks. Session components were separated with a three-minute control block to allow for accurate hemodynamic monitoring. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used throughout sessions to measure cerebral hemodynamic modulation, with bilateral sensors over the prefrontal, parietal, and posterior parietal cortices. Serial resting-state and diffusion-weighted MRIs were recorded at 3 timepoints during the study. GLM analyses tested for hemodynamic effects as a function of session number and sensory priming. We hypothesized a significant cortical priming effect due to sensory stimulation.

Statistical analysis (GLM) of the priming condition revealed that sensory stimulation before tasks enhances behavioral performance and modulates hemodynamics. Enhanced MR tractography correlated with behavioral and hemodynamic changes during the intervention, showing that repeated sensory stimulation may influence measurable structural changes. These findings align with a prior case study, supporting the therapeutic use of saltatory pneumotactile somatosensory stimulation paired with behavioral tasks and non-invasive cerebral oximetry. The present case study suggests that this neurotherapeutic protocol may enhance neuroplasticity and offers a clinically feasible, non-invasive, data-driven approach for chronic stroke rehabilitation.

Advisor: Steven M. Barlow