OT-SLP Interdisciplinary Research Breaks New Ground

Back in 1998 assistant professor of occupational therapy Kinsuk K. Maitra and professor of speech-language pathology Kal M. Telage (together in photo at right) began to collaborate on interdisciplinary neuroscience research. In 2001 the two presented a research project at the annual meeting of the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, where it received a research award. Their paper, "Evidence of Vocalization-Induced Enhancement of Functional Performance in a Daily Occupation in Well Elderly," was coauthored by occupational therapy graduate students (all of whom received bachelor's degrees in 2000 and master's degrees in 2001) who conducted the research: Danielle Curry, Caitlin Gamble, Melissa Martin, Jessica Phelps, Maria E. Santisteban, Erin Slattery, and Jennifer Thomas. The two professors were present when the graduate students presented the study last November at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego.

This project is one of many ongoing interdisciplinary neuroscience research endeavors that began when Maitra and Telage began to work in partnership. They developed a motor control laboratory, now part of the OT department, in which they can evaluate highly discrete kinematic aspects of movement. This is done using sophisticated sensors that measure minute features of movement capability within a three-dimensional electromagnetic field. "The research done in the lab has focused on areas that interrelate between occupational therapy and speech-language pathology," explains Telage. "Graduate students from both disciplines work together in teams, participating in all aspects of the research. They pose research questions that cross both disciplines, develop experimental methodologies, collect and analyze data, determine results, and evaluate their findings in terms of the interdisciplinary implications for rehabilitation."

One research focus has been the motor control mechanisms that serve both hand movement and speech and that are found anatomically near one another in the human brain. The award-winning research paper determined that vocalization serves as an enhancement mechanism for motor performance during a physical task in both young and elderly healthy subjects. The effects were even more dramatic in the elderly group, where kinematic parameters of movement were found to be faster and smoother when the subjects made vocal noises simultaneously with performing the actions. The study concluded that vocalizations improve the movement performance of a daily living task --- such as reaching for and grasping a cup, then placing it on a shelf --- in young and elderly subjects. This work was subsequently accepted for publication in an upcoming issue of the Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.

During summer 2001, S-LP graduate students Anne Coleman '00, M.S. '01, and Nicole Sgobbo '00, M.S. '01, completed a follow-up study that applied the findings from the original project to two groups of neurologically handicapped patients --- one that had suffered stroke, the other with Parkinson's disease. All these patients demonstrated limited capabilities in reaching and grasping. The results of the follow-up investigation indicated that for these individuals vocalization also serves as an enhancement mechanism for motor movements.

Both studies strongly indicate that there are important clinical implications for further developing interdisciplinary remedial techniques between speech pathologists and occupational therapists. The original study and the follow-up were presented this past June at the 13th World Congress of Occupational Therapy in Stockholm, Sweden, and in November at a Society for Neuroscience meeting in Orlando, Florida.

These and current ongoing research studies are supported by funds from the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute, the Division of Graduate Studies, the Departments of Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, and faculty development and summer research grants from the provost's office. The researchers are hoping to receive federal and other funding for their future work.

Maitra and Telage have extended their interdisciplinary collaboration into neuroscience courses they teach in their respective departments. The bridge between their departments is a digitized Web-based "neuroscience megasource," which allows students from both disciplines to download topically organized, well-illustrated slides that support oral lectures. The slides provide concrete representations of concepts being explained or show visual associations and integrations within a lecture's content. Core modules are tailored to the needs of students within each discipline, and common modules cross over into both disciplines. Consequently, students in both neuroscience courses are able to benefit from the specialized expertise of each professor.

Telage has also begun to incorporate video segments into the modules, allowing for better illustration of different neuromotor handicaps. This gives students a good background for their clinical experience, where they will first directly observe such disorders. "The interdisciplinary research and instruction are invaluable," says Telage, who has high hopes for future collaborative efforts between the departments. "We will broaden the scope of these activities even further as we secure additional support and funding."