Research

Investigations into the functional organization of nervous system is more fun and informative when computational neuroscience is combined with experiments! 


To find out more about people doing the research, click the pic ->

Neuromechanics of Movement

A key inquiry in neuroscience involves understanding the interplay between neural motor control, limb structure, and external forces to facilitate efficient movement. We conduct experimental and computational research focusing on these neuromechanical interactions in humans. Our findings suggest that musculoskeletal anatomy has evolved to streamline motor control, essentially narrowing the range of potential control strategies. Additionally, we've discovered that spinal cord anatomy is a reflection of musculoskeletal structure, and that corticospinal control mechanisms depend on this anatomy to counteract gravitational forces during arm reaching tasks. These insights demonstrate how the limb's physical characteristics and its environmental interactions are integrated within the nervous system. The implications of our research extend to practical applications, such as the development of a real-time biomimetic myoelectric hand prosthesis controller, and have spurred further research in various laboratories. 

Sensorimotor Integration

Another fundamental problem in neuroscience is sensorimotor integration for efficient motor control. Our findings indicate that proprioceptive feedback is integrated with anticipatory signals to accurately perceive the position and motion of the limbs. Furthermore, this precise sensing is crucial for quick adjustments in response to unexpected changes during motion, both from external sources and from within the body. We discovered that these immediate adjustments, or "online corrections," depend on dynamic feedback that is proportional to the error detected, and this mechanism shows limited adaptability when faced with altered visual and motor conditions. Additionally, our recent work suggests that the modulation of muscle spindle feedback by fusimotor activity does not account for the variable muscle co-activation observed in different tasks. This body of work sheds light on the intricate and non-linear interplay between anticipatory and reactive neural mechanisms in controlling arm dynamics.

Quantitative Assessment of Skill and Motor Deficits

The translation of scientific knowledge of mechanisms into improved medical care is of great importance. We work to integrate computational tools into medical applications through the creation of innovative evaluation techniques. We have demonstrated that the fusion of neuromuscular electrical stimulation with a sensor-equipped exercise workstation yields critical data for assessing rehabilitation outcomes. We have also successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of motion capture technology in measuring motor deficits following strokes and surgeries. Additionally, my team has uncovered novel details on motor impairments in intralimb coordination after strokes by analyzing force-related metrics.

More info on technology and references is here.

Computational Tools for Science and Medicine

Computational tools play a pivotal role in enhancing our grasp of sensorimotor control systems. My team and I have pioneered methods to decipher noisy surface electromyographic signals, uncovering the underlying neural strategies that orchestrate these signals. Additionally, we've innovated biomimetic approaches to tackle forward and inverse dynamic simulation problems that plague complex multidimensional models of human limbs. These advancements under my guidance have significantly simplified extraction of reliable biomechanical signals and their interpretation for use in basic science and medical applications. 


Click here for more details about applications of our lab's technologies outside the lab.