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March 8, 2021
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Cortical activity during sensorial tactile stimulation in healthy adults through Vojta therapy. A randomized pilot controlled trial

Publicated to:Journal Of Neuroengineering And Rehabilitation. 18 (1): 13- - 2021-01-21 18(1), DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00824-4

Authors: Sanz-Esteban, Ismael; Cano-de-la-Cuerda, Roberto; San-Martin-Gomez, Ana; Jimenez-Antona, Carmen; Monge-Pereira, Esther; Estrada-Barranco, Cecilia; Ignacio Serrano, Jose

Affiliations

Rey Juan Carlos Univ, Dept Phys Therapy Occupat Therapy Phys Med & Reha, Fac Hlth Sci, Avenida Atenas S-N, Madrid 28922, Spain - Author
Spanish Natl Res Council CSIC UPM, Automat & Robot Ctr, Neural & Cognit Engn Grp gNeC, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Europea Madrid, Fac Sport Sci, Dept Physiotherapy, Phys Therapy & Hlth Res Grp, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

BackgroundBrain's is stimulated by Vojta Therapy through selected body areas activating stored innate motor programs which are exported as coordinate movement and muscle contractions to trunk and limbs. The aim of this pilot study is to know the responses at cortical level to a specific tactile input, assessed by electroencephalography (EEG), compared to a sham stimulation, in healthy subjects.MethodsA randomized-controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly distributed into two groups: a non-specific tactile input-group (non-STI-group) (n=20) and a Vojta specific tactile input-group (V-STI-group) (n=20). The non-STI-group was stimulated in a non specific area (quadriceps distal area) and V-STI-group was stimulated in a specific area (intercostal space, at the mammillary line between the 7th and 8th ribs) according to the Vojta therapy. Recording was performed with EEG for 10 min considering a first minute of rest, 8 min during the stimulus and 1 min after the stimulus. EEG activity was recorded from 32 positions with active Ag/AgCl scalp electrodes following the 10-20 system. The continuous EEG signal was split into consecutive segments of one minute.ResultsThe V-STI-group showed statistically significant differences in the theta, low alpha and high alpha bands, bilaterally in the supplementary motor (SMA) and premotor (PMA) areas (BA6 and BA8), superior parietal cortex (BA5, BA7) and the posterior cingulate cortex (BA23, BA31). For the V-STI-group, all frequency bands presented an initial bilateral activation of the superior and medial SMA (BA6) during the first minute. This activation was maintained until the fourth minute. During the fourth minute, the activation decreased in the three frequency bands. From the fifth minute, the activation in the superior and medial SMA rose again in the three frequency bandsConclusionsOur findings highlight that the specific stimulation area at intercostal space, on the mammillary line between 7 and 8th ribs according to Vojta therapy differentially increased bilateral activation in SMA (BA6) and Pre-SMA (BA8), BA5, BA7, BA23 and BA31 in the theta, low and high alpha bands in healthy subjects. These results could indicate the activation of innate locomotor circuits during stimulation of the pectoral area according to the Vojta therapy.Trial registration Retrospectively registered. This randomized controlled trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04317950 (March 23, 2020).

Keywords

AdultAlpha rhythmArticleBrainBrain activityBrain cortexControlled studyCortical activationElectroencephalographyFemaleHealthy volunteersHumanHuman experimentHumansIntercostal muscleLocomotionMaleMammillary bodyMovementMovement (physiology)Normal humanParietal cortexPhysical therapy modalitiesPhysiologyPhysiotherapyPilot projectsPilot studyPosterior cingulatePremotor cortexPriority journalProceduresQuadriceps femoris muscleRandomized controlled trialReflex locomotionReflexotherapyRestRibSupplementary motor areaTactile stimulationTouchVojta therapyYoung adult

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Journal Of Neuroengineering And Rehabilitation due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 5/68, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Rehabilitation. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.04. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 7.68 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-23, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 8
  • Scopus: 15

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-23:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 64.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 78 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 7.05.
  • The number of mentions on the social network Facebook: 2 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 9 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (Serrano Moreno, José Ignacio).