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Research opportunities
Students
join one of the many research teams in the SINE program involved in
neural
engineering research. This research involves fundamental
techniques in electrophysiology, advances in
computer
science and computational modeling, along with new theories in
mechanical,
electrical, and biomedical engineering applications. Students utilize
these
techniques to identify mechanisms and strategies used by the nervous
system to function
in health and disease and then to develop innovative strategies for
restoring
this
function following injury. This research is conducted in close
collaboration with investigators in the laboratory, with the results
from the students' work presented at the final poster day. Some
of the posters presented for the 2007 SINE program are listed at the bottom of this page,
illustrating the types of research projects that applicants can expect
to carry
out in this program.
| Advisor |
Research description |
| Randy Beer | We hope to enhance
our understanding of the various neuromechanical factors that interact
to shape reaching in patients post-stroke and to develop and evaluate
novel rehabilitation therapies and technology to improve post-stroke
arm function. |
| Jules Dewald |
Research in our lab
is focused on understanding discoordination of the upper limb after
stroke, in learning the involvement of brain plasticity in recovery,
and in developing novel neurotherapeutic training programs to enhance
motor control of the upper limb even years after a stroke. |
| Yasin Dhaher | The underlying theme
of our research is to gain better understanding of how biomechanics and
neurophysiology are integrated in the control of movement. The overall
goal of these efforts is to develop improved intervention strategies
for musculoskeletal rehabilitation. |
| Mitra
Hartmann
|
Our research focuses
on the neurobiology of active sensing behaviors, and on the development
of bio-inspired computational models and hardware to test candidate
neurobiological algorithms. Our laboratory is particularly interested
in how sensory feedback is used in real time to guide motor activity. |
| CJ Heckman | The goal of our lab
is to understand the changes in spinal neurons and spinal circuits
caused by neurotrauma (e.g. spinal injury) and neurodegeneration (e.g.
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). We seek to identify new targets
for therapeutic intervention in these diseases by identifying specific
receptors on neurons that can be selectively controlled by novel
pharmacological agents. |
| George Hornby | We
seek ways to help enhance walking ability in patients with neurological
injuries. In particular, we are investigating the use of robotic- or
other non-motorized devices on individuals with spinal cord injury and
stroke and how such devices may enhance walking function. |
| Derek
Kamper |
Our goal is to
improve recovery of motor control of the hand following neurological
injuries such as stroke. To achieve this goal, our lab has three
major thrusts of research: 1) further understanding of the sensorimotor
control of the hand, 2) delineate the pathological changes that occur
following injury such as stroke, 3) develop and test interventions,
such as assistive mechatronic devices. |
| Konrad Koerding | Our goal is to
improve rehabilitation through an understanding of motor learning. We
study experimentally how people move and how their movements are
affected by uncertainty. We build computational models using Bayesian
statistics to calculate how people could move optimally or learn to
move optimally. |
| Todd Kuiken | We aim to improve
function and quality of life for individuals who have suffered limb
loss. We work toward this goal by investigating improved
prosthesis design and control techniques, including targeted
reinnervation. |
| Rob Linsenmeier | We are interested in
the microenvironment in which the neurons of the retina work. Studying
the distribution and regulation of ions, substrates and metabolites
allows us to understand aspects of cell biology, physiology and energy
metabolism in the intact retina. Also, many blinding diseases are
caused by problems with the vasculature and its ability to supply
nutrients to the tissue. |
| Malcolm
MacIver |
The
research in my group is dedicated to understanding fundamental problems
of how an animal's biomechanics relates to the animal's informational
needs, particularly how to solve the problem of moving through space
towards a target of interest while simultaneously increasing the
quality of the information extracted from the biosensor arrays on the
body surface. |
| Moshen Makhsous | We
carry out research into the response of the human body to extended
periods of sitting, and the variations in tissue properties in
individuals with different impairments. The emphasis is on finding new
ways of detecting, preventing and treating the development of pressure
sores, and maximizing health and safety while seated. |
| Lee Miller |
The three fundamental
goals of our research are the following: 1) To understand the nature of
the brain's own signals -- the "language" in which movement commands
are expressed by neurons. 2) To understand how these signals are
produced -- the connections and transformations taking place among
networks of neurons. 3) To develop applications of these basic
principles that can be of therapeutic value to patients. |
| Mehdi
Mirbagheri
|
We study
neuromuscular properties and movement of different joints in both upper
and lower extremities in healthy subjects and in people with stroke and
spinal cord injury. Using advanced system identification techniques, we
characterize the neuromuscular properties of the joint and separate its
muscular and reflexive components by applying small pseudorandom binary
sequences to the joint. |
| Wendy Murray | We use
biomechanics as a framework for investigating how we move and control
our arms and hands. We are especially motivated to apply this research
to help improve function following injuries and impairments that affect
the hand and arm. |
| Sandro
Mussa-Ivaldi |
Our goal is to
understand the sensory-motor system through close interaction with the
themes and technologies that develop artificial systems and endow them
with intelligent behaviors. We wish to create knowledge that can help
restore motor functions lost to stroke and other neuromotor impairments. |
| James Patton | We use robotics technology to understand how the nervous system controls posture and movement in dynamic activities while performing reaching, standing or walking. Much of our focus in on how robotic technology can help teach movements as well as be used to understand, diagnose, and treat injuries to restore function. |
| Eric Perreault | Our research focus on
the mechanisms underlying the multijoint control of movement and
posture in able-bodied individuals and in individuals with neuromotor
pathologies. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the
relative contributions of intrinsic muscle properties, limb geometry
and neural activation in the control of whole limb function. |
| Zev Rymer | We strive to
understand how the nervous system controls the motor units within a
muscle so as to enable the generation of smooth and precise changes in
overall muscle force. We also seek to investigate the role of
intrinsic properties of the motoneurons that innervate the relevant
muscle fiber populations in providing such control. |
| James Stinear | Our
goal is to better understand the cortical control of human movement and
to develop movement- and stimulation-induced techniques for enhancing
motor system plasticity. To meet these aims our research brings
together the sciences of human neurophysiology and human movement. |
| Matthew Tresch | Research in our lab
focuses on the mechanisms and strategies responsible for the
coordination of movement by spinal motor systems. We examine these
issues by using a range of neurophysiological, behavioral, and
computational approaches, attempting to integrate between
investigations across a number of different levels of analysis and
obtain a holistic understanding of spinal cord function. |
| John Troy |
The focus of our
laboratory is to understand how visual images are encoded in higher
mammals by the activity patterns of the retina's ganglion cells.
We have recently been studying how visual information is encoded by
ensembles of retinal ganglion cells. We also attempting to develop new
nanoscale probes that can be used to record from and electrically
stimulate single neurons. |
| Richard Weir |
Our laboratory
strives to build advanced robotic-artificial limb systems that
accurately recreate the form and function of the human upper-limb lost
due to amputation. Much of our research is focused on finding
algorithms for the controllers of these limb systems. We have studies
involving pattern recognition, muscle synergies, and real-time
musculoskeletal models. |
| Li-Qun Zhang | We
investigate muscle fiber and tendon properties in neurological
impairments and sports-related injuries. and develop novel treatments
and investigate pathological changes and treatment-induced improvements
associated with spastic hypertonia in various neurological disorders. |
Posters from SINE 2007
interns (SINE students are
listed as first authors)
Task-dependent
mechanisms for reflex modulation. Je Hi An, Jonathan
Shemmell, and Eric J. Perreault
Feasibility
test on prosthetic hand grasp formation with reduction of degrees of
freedom. HaeOck Lee, Richard F. ff. Weir, and Dawnlee
J. Roberson
Automatic
recalibration for improved control of a powered wheelchair.
Joseph A. Russino, Alon Fishbach, and Ferdinando A. Mussa-Ivaldi
Unsupervised
recalibration of assistive devices: automatic identification of control
errors during free navigation. Jason Ip, Alon
Fishbach, Zachary Danzinger, and Ferdinando Mussa-Ivaldi
Brachioradialis
to FPL transfers: using modelling to predict post-operative results.
Vinesh Narayan and Wendy Murray
Trunk control
and sitting balance in hemiparetic stroke. Joshua
Zavertnik, S. Perlmutter, Y. Wang, F. Lin, and Moshen Makhsous
Design of a
series elastic actuator wrist. Jeff D. Christenson and
Richard F. ff. Weir
Reach to grasp. Mary Beth Holden and Jim Patton
Motor
adaptation of lower limbs after stroke. Melanie
Donoghue, Natalia Sanchez, and Yasin Dhaher
Error
augmentation and the maximum tolerable sensory discordance.
Jessica Roth and Jim Patton
Design of a
device for finger passive joint torque measurement.
Hua Chen and Derek G. Kamper
Time-varying
system identification of ankle stiffness. Andrea
Baltes, Rimas Gulbinas, and Mehdi Mirbagheri.