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\"The revised edition of this highly practical guide to creating and using multi-sensory environments is packed full of ideas for low cost, easy to assemble multi-sensory environments suitable for children of varying ages and abilities. Each creative learning environment is designed to be constructed in a classroom or school hall, encouraging creative thinking and learning, and development of social and emotional skills. Each environment idea is accompanied by suggestions for use for children with special educational needs. Key features of the revised edition include: Ideas for creating sensory experiences that stimulate all the sensory channels -- auditory, visual, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory -- suggestions for extension or differentiation depending on student capability or time available. A summary of the theory and background to multi-sensory learning, to allow you to adapt the suggested scenarios according to the needs of individual learners. Although these activities will be of particular value for children with special educational needs or sensory impairments, they are more broadly designed to provide stimulating learning environments, as promoted in the themes and principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage Guidance. This is an invaluable resource for teachers and other professionals in education\"-- Provided by publisher.

Increasing life expectancy has led to a rise in nursing home admissions, a context in which older adults often experience chronic physical and mental health conditions, chronic pain, and reduced well-being. Nonpharmacological approaches are especially important for managing older adults' chronic pain, mental health conditions (such as anxiety and depression), and overall well-being, including sensory stimulation (SS) and therapist support (TS). However, the combined effects of SS and TS have not been investigated. This randomized controlled trial examines the specific and combined effects of brief SS and TS interventions on older adults' physical and mental health and pain intensity levels, among individuals living in nursing homes. A total of 96 patients aged 65-99 years from a nursing home were randomly assigned to 3 groups: SS, TS, and combined SS+TS interventions, each delivered as four 20-minute sessions. SS was implemented using a multisensory Snoezelen room. Pain intensity levels (per a Visual Analog Scale), blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and hand grip strength (using a Jamar hand dynamometer) were measured before and after each of the 4 weekly therapeutic sessions. In addition, life satisfaction (per the Satisfaction with Life Scale) and anxiety (per the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder Scale) were evaluated before and after the whole intervention. Mixed model analyses tested the relative efficacy of the 3 interventions, applying simple slope analysis with Tukey correction. Study rationale and analytical plans were preregistered. The combined intervention of SS and TS (SS+TS) resulted in reduced pain levels compared with SS (B=0.209, P=.006) and TS alone (B=0.23, P=.002) over 4 sessions (F =2.62; P=.017; R =0.23). Further, the combined SS+TS intervention resulted in reduced systolic blood pressure versus SS (B=0.09, P=.01) and TS alone (B=0.016, P<.001) groups (F =5.42; P<.001; R =0.29). In addition, the combined SS+TS intervention resulted in an increased grip strength versus SS (B=-0.35, P=.003) and TS alone (B=-0.032, P=.008) groups (F =2.25; P=.04; R =0.19). Moreover, combined SS+TS resulted in an improvement in life satisfaction (B=-4.29, P<.0001) compared with SS (B=-2.38, P=.0042) and TS alone (B=-1.20, P=.13) groups (F =3.47; P=.04). Finally, SS+TS demonstrated greater improvement in symptoms of general anxiety disorder (B=10.64, P<.0001) compared with SS (B=3.30 P=.01) and TS alone (B=1.13, P=.37) (F =13.5; P<.001) groups. No differences between the interventions were shown for blood oxygen saturation (F =2.06; P=.06), diastolic blood pressure (F =1.12; P=.35), and heart rate (F =1.33; P=.23). The combined intervention of SS and TS showed therapeutic benefits for pain management and physical and mental health of older adults living in nursing homes, relative to each therapeutic component in isolation. This brief intervention can be readily implemented to improve well-being and optimize therapeutic resources in nursing home settings. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05394389; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05394389.

\"Do you know a child who hates the feel of certain items of clothing? This is a child's perspective on a largely unrecognized condition called tactile defensiveness, a physical condition that causes hypersensitivity to certain touch sensations. Intended for adults and children to read together, the illustrated book explains reasons a child may become emotionally overwhelmed by daily routines such as putting on clothing, socks and shoes. The workbook format allows children to express and explore their own feelings through drawings or words, in order to explain their misunderstood behavior. A perfect book for children, families, teachers, therapists and other professionals dealing with tactile defensiveness suitable to be read with children aged 4 and above.\"-- Provided by publisher.

Research on human posture and balance control has grown in recent years, leading to continued advances in their understanding. The ability to maintain balance is attributed to the interplay of the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems, although an important role is also played by the auditory system. The lack or deficit in any of these systems leads to a reduced stability that may be counterbalanced by the integration of all the remaining sensory information. Auditory and vibratory stimulation have been found to be useful to enhance balance alongside daily activities either in healthy or pathological subjects; nevertheless, while widely investigated, the literature relating to these approaches is still fragmented. This review aims at addressing this by collecting, organising, and discussing all the literature to date on the effects of the various acoustic and vibratory stimulation techniques available on static upright posture in healthy subjects. In addition, this review intends to provide a solid and comprehensive starting point for all the researchers interested in these research areas. A systematic search of the literature was performed and a total of 33 articles (24 on vibratory stimulation and 9 on acoustic stimulation) were included in our analysis. For all articles, several elements were highlighted including: the study sample, the characteristics of the stimulations, the recording instruments, the experimental protocols, and outcomes. Overall, both stimulations analysed were found to have a positive effect on balance but more research is needed to align those alternative approaches to the traditional ones.

Background Repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) adapts the timing of stimulation protocols used in cellular studies to induce synaptic plasticity. In healthy subjects, RSS leads to widespread sensorimotor cortical reorganization paralleled by improved sensorimotor behavior. Here, we investigated whether RSS reduces sensorimotor upper limb impairment in patients with subacute stroke more effectively than conventional therapy. Methods A single-blinded sham-controlled clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of RSS in treating sensorimotor deficits of the upper limbs. Patients with subacute unilateral ischemic stroke were randomly assigned to receive standard therapy in combination with RSS or with sham RSS. Patients were masked to treatment allocation. RSS consisted of intermittent 20 Hz electrical stimulation applied on the affected hand for 45 min/day, 5 days per week, for 2 weeks, and was transmitted using custom-made stimulation-gloves with built-in electrodes contacting each fingertip separately. Before and after the intervention, we assessed light-touch and tactile discrimination, proprioception, dexterity, grip force, and subtasks of the Jebsen Taylor hand-function test for the non-affected and the affected hand. Data from these quantitative tests were combined into a total performance index serving as primary outcome measure. In addition, tolerability and side effects of RSS intervention were recorded. Results Seventy one eligible patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive RSS treatment ( n  = 35) or sham RSS ( n  = 36). Data of 25 patients were not completed because they were transferred to another hospital, resulting in n  = 23 for each group. Before treatment, sensorimotor performance between groups was balanced ( p  = 0.237). After 2 weeks of the intervention, patients in the group receiving standard therapy with RSS showed significantly better restored sensorimotor function than the control group (standardized mean difference 0.57; 95% CI -0.013–1.16; p  = 0.027) RSS treatment was superior in all domains tested. Repetitive sensory stimulation was well tolerated and accepted, and no adverse events were observed. Conclusions Rehabilitation including RSS enhanced sensorimotor recovery more effectively than standard therapy alone. Rehabilitation outcome between the effects of RSS and standard therapy was largest for sensory and motor improvement; however, the results for proprioception and everyday tasks were encouraging warranting further studies in more severe patients. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered January 31, 2012 under DRKS00003515 ( https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do;jsessionid=AEE2585CCB82A22A2B285470B37C47C8?navigationId=results ).

Background: Rhythmic sensory stimulation, including structured musical interventions, has gained renewed interest as a non-pharmacological strategy that may modulate cortical excitability and network stability in focal epilepsy. Although several small studies have reported changes in seizure frequency or epileptiform activity during rhythmic or music exposure, the underlying mechanisms and translational relevance remain insufficiently synthesized. Objective: This narrative review summarizes clinical evidence on music-based and rhythmic sensory interventions in focal epilepsy, outlines plausible neurophysiological mechanisms related to neural entrainment and large-scale network regulation, and discusses emerging opportunities for digital delivery of rhythmic protocols in everyday self-management. Methods: A structured search of recent clinical, neurophysiological, and rehabilitation literature was performed with emphasis on rhythmic auditory, tactile, and multimodal stimulation in epilepsy or related conditions. Additional theoretical and translational sources addressing oscillatory dynamics, entrainment, timing networks, and patient-centered digital tools were reviewed to establish a mechanistic framework. Results: Existing studies—although limited by small cohorts and heterogeneous methodology—suggest that certain rhythmic structures, including specific musical compositions, may transiently modulate cortical synchronization, reduce epileptiform discharges, or alleviate seizure-related symptoms in selected patients. Evidence from neurologic music therapy and rhythmic stimulation in other neurological disorders further supports the concept that externally delivered rhythms can influence timing networks, attentional control, and interhemispheric coordination. Advances in mobile health platforms enable structured rhythmic exercises to be delivered and monitored in real-world settings. Conclusions: Music-based and rhythmic sensory interventions represent a promising but underexplored adjunctive approach for focal epilepsy. Their effectiveness likely depends on individual network characteristics and on the structure of the applied rhythm. Digital integration may enhance personalization and adherence. Rigorous clinical trials and mechanistic studies are required to define optimal parameters, identify responders, and clarify the role of rhythmic stimulation within modern epilepsy care.

Background: We aimed to explore the effect of multi-sensory stimulation on apathy symptoms in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: Eighty elderly patients with AD admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, China from January 2022 to February 2023 were selected as the research objects by convenient sampling method. According to the random number table, they were divided into intervention group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing, while the intervention group was given multi-sensory stimulation based on this nursing. Apathy evaluation scale (AES), Behavioral pathology in Alzheimer’s disease rating scale (BEHAVE-AD) and Quality of Life Scale for dementia patients（QoL-AD） were used to compare the results. Results: Compared with the control group, the scores of AES and BEHAVE-AD in intervention group were lower (t was -7.312 and 11.88 respectively, P < 0.05), and the scores of QoL-AD in intervention group were significantly higher than those in control group were (t was -15.311, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Multi-sensory stimulation can relieve apathy symptoms, mental and behavioral symptoms and improve the quality of life of elderly patients with AD, which is worth popularizing in clinical practice

How is it that groups of neurons dispersed through the brain interact to generate complex behaviors? Three papers in this issue present brain-scale studies of neuronal activity and dynamics (see the Perspective by Huk and Hart). Allen et al. found that in thirsty mice, there is widespread neural activity related to stimuli that elicit licking and drinking. Individual neurons encoded task-specific responses, but every brain area contained neurons with different types of response. Optogenetic stimulation of thirst-sensing neurons in one area of the brain reinstated drinking and neuronal activity across the brain that previously signaled thirst. Gründemann et al. investigated the activity of mouse basal amygdala neurons in relation to behavior during different tasks. Two ensembles of neurons showed orthogonal activity during exploratory and nonexploratory behaviors, possibly reflecting different levels of anxiety experienced in these areas. Stringer et al. analyzed spontaneous neuronal firing, finding that neurons in the primary visual cortex encoded both visual information and motor activity related to facial movements. The variability of neuronal responses to visual stimuli in the primary visual area is mainly related to arousal and reflects the encoding of latent behavioral states. Science , this issue p. eaav3932 , p. eaav8736 , p. eaav7893 ; see also p. 236 Neurons in the primary visual cortex encode both visual information and motor activity. Neuronal populations in sensory cortex produce variable responses to sensory stimuli and exhibit intricate spontaneous activity even without external sensory input. Cortical variability and spontaneous activity have been variously proposed to represent random noise, recall of prior experience, or encoding of ongoing behavioral and cognitive variables. Recording more than 10,000 neurons in mouse visual cortex, we observed that spontaneous activity reliably encoded a high-dimensional latent state, which was partially related to the mouse’s ongoing behavior and was represented not just in visual cortex but also across the forebrain. Sensory inputs did not interrupt this ongoing signal but added onto it a representation of external stimuli in orthogonal dimensions. Thus, visual cortical population activity, despite its apparently noisy structure, reliably encodes an orthogonal fusion of sensory and multidimensional behavioral information.

Background Reduction in sensorimotor function of the upper limb is a common and persistent impairment after stroke, and less than half of stroke survivors recover even basic function of the upper limb after a year. Previous work in stroke has shown that repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) of the upper limb may benefit motor function. As yet, there have been no investigations of RSS in the early-acute period despite this being the time window during which the neuroplastic processes underpinning sensorimotor recovery are likely to occur. Methods A single-blinded, stratified, randomised controlled feasibility study was undertaken at two NHS acute trusts to determine the recruitment rate, intervention adherence, and safety and acceptability of an RSS intervention in the early period after stroke. Participants were recruited within 2 weeks of index stroke. Stratified on arm function, they were randomised to receive either 45 min of daily RSS and usual care or usual care alone (UC) for 2 weeks. Changes from baseline on the primary outcome of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) to measurements taken by a blinded assessor were examined after completion of the intervention (2 weeks) and at 3 months from randomisation. Results Forty patients were recruited and randomised (RSS n  = 23; UC n  = 17) with a recruitment rate of 9.5% (40/417) of patients admitted with a stroke of which 52 (12.5%) were potentially eligible, with 10 declining to participate for various reasons. Participants found the RSS intervention acceptable and adherence was good. The intervention was safe and there were no serious adverse events. Conclusions This study indicates that recruitment to a trial of RSS in the acute period after stroke is feasible. The intervention was well tolerated and appeared to provide additional benefit to usual care. In addition to a definitive trial of efficacy, further work is warranted to examine the effects of varying doses of RSS upon arm function and the mechanism by which RSS induces sensorimotor recovery in the acute period after stroke. Trial registration ISRCTN, registry no: ISRCTN17422343 ; IRAS Project ID: 215137. Registered on October 2016