Motivations of Human Helping Behavior towards Dogs.

Human-dog interactions have a positive effect on human sociality and health. The relationship with dogs helps humans to cope with stress during an emotionally challenging period, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, a growing global interest in pets has been registered, including the volunteering for shelter/stray dog protection.

A basic technology-aided programme for leisure and communication of persons with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: performance and social rating.

Purpose: This study assessed (a) the impact of a technology-aided programme on the leisure and communication engagement of persons with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and (b) the opinion of rehabilitation and care personnel regarding the programme.

Method: The programme's impact was assessed with four participants who were allowed to activate leisure and communication options through basic responses (e.g.

Assisting persons with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in their leisure engagement and communication needs with a basic technology-aided program.

Background: Eye-tracking communication devices and brain-computer interfaces are the two resources available to help people with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) avoid isolation and passivity.

Objective: This study was aimed at assessing a technology-aided program (i.e.

Patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease engage in verbal reminiscence with the support of a computer-aided program: a pilot study.

This study focused on the assessment of a program recently developed for helping patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease engage in computer-mediated verbal reminiscence (Lancioni et al., 2014a). Sixteen participants were involved in the study.

Technology-aided programs for post-coma patients emerged from or in a minimally conscious state.

Post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state (MCS) or emerged/emerging from such state (E-MCS), who are affected by extensive motor impairment and lack of speech, may develop an active role and interact with their environment with the help of technology-aided intervention programs. Although a number of studies have been conducted in this area during the last few years, new evidence about the efficacy of those programs is warranted. These three studies were an effort in that direction.

A computer-aided program for helping patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease engage in verbal reminiscence.

This study assessed a simple computer-aided program for helping patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease engage in verbal reminiscence. In practice, the program was aimed at fostering the patient's verbal engagement on a number of life experiences/topics previously selected for him or her and introduced in the sessions through a friendly female, who appeared on the computer screen. The female asked the patient about the aforementioned experiences/topics, and provided him or her with positive attention, and possibly verbal guidance (i.

Two men with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis operate a computer-aided television system through mouth or throat microswitches.

This study assessed a simple technology to enable two men affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in an advanced stage (i.e., with pervasive motor disabilities and lack of speech), to operate a computer-aided television system.

Technology to help persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech with their leisure occupation and communication.

These two studies were aimed at extending the assessment of technology-aided programs to enhance leisure occupation or communication with persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech. Specifically, Study I implemented the program for leisure occupation with two post-stroke patients. Study II implemented the program for communication with two persons affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

A man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis uses a mouth pressure microswitch to operate a text messaging system with a word prediction function.

Objective: To assess whether a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis could benefit from using (a) a mouth pressure microswitch instead of an optic microswitch activated via head movement and (b) a special word prediction function within a text messaging system.

Method: Initially, both microswitches were used for operating the text messaging system, and their effectiveness and the man's preference were assessed. Subsequently, only the mouth microswitch was used and the messaging system was provided with a word prediction function.

Effects of response-related music stimulation versus general music stimulation on positive participation of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Assessing the effects of response-related music stimulation versus general (response-unrelated) music stimulation on positive participation of 11 new patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Method: The patients were functioning in the severe and low-moderate ranges of the disease. Positive participation included behaviors such as, singing or rhythmic movements and smiles.

A voice-sensitive microswitch for a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and pervasive motor impairment.

Objective: To assess a voice-sensitive microswitch for a 67-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who had difficulties continuing to use an optic microswitch through small chin movements.

Method: The man used the microswitches in combination with a computer-aided program to (a) access preferred songs and videos or make requests, and (b) operate a messaging system to communicate with his wife and sons. To assess the man's performance with the two microswitches, we alternated sessions with one microswitch with sessions with the other.

Self-regulated music stimulation for persons with Alzheimer's disease: impact assessment and social validation.

Objective: To assess the impact and the social rating of an active music condition (in which 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease regulated their music input) vs. a passive music condition.

Method: In the active condition, the patients used a simple hand response and a microswitch to activate music stimulation periods.

Technology-aided programs for assisting communication and leisure engagement of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: two single-case studies.

Technology-aided programs for assisting communication and leisure engagement were assessed in single-case studies involving two men with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Study I involved a 51-year-old man with a virtually total loss of his motor repertoire and assessed a technology-aided program aimed at enabling him to (a) write and send out text messages and have incoming messages read to him and (b) establish videophone connections with his children (i.e.

A technology-aided program to support leisure engagement and communication by a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: To assess a technology-aided programme for promoting leisure engagement and communication in a man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Method: The programme involved a laptop computer equipped with a Clicker 5 software package, an optic microswitch and an interface device. The participant could choose between two leisure options (i.