Neural Control of Movement Laboratory
Director
Susanne M. Morton, PT, PhD
Location
1-155 MEB
(319) 335-9808
Research Interests
The NCM lab focuses on mechanisms of human central nervous system control and adaptation of movement. We are particularly interested in how the brain helps to control and modify walking patterns in response to changes in the environment, behavioral goal, and availability of sensory feedback, and in the context of learning. We study healthy populations as well as individuals with central nervous system dysfunction affecting movement, e.g., stroke. Movements are carefully quantified using kinematic (trajectories, joint angles, etc.), kinetic (forces, torques, etc.), electromyographic (muscle activity) and non-invasive brain stimulation measurements.
Current Research Projects
- Mechanisms of impaired locomotion and interlimb coordination in post-stroke hemiparesis
- Motor adaptation and motor learning in health and disease
- Non-invasive brain stimulation to influence interhemipheric effects between motor cortices post-stroke.
Below is some sample data from a recent project investigating interlimb coordination during walking in healthy young adults. We show that a predictable perturbation to a single limb produces coordinated bilateral feedforward responses over time, which work to maintain stability and forward propulsion. Note that the EMG changes persist even after the perturbation is removed.
Major Instrumentation
- Motion capture: Optotrak Certus System, dual position sensors
- Electromyography: Motion Labs Systems 10 channel surface EMG unit
- Non-invasive brain stimulation: Magstim Rapid2 transcranial magnetic stimulation unit
Funding Sources
- NIH / NINDS R21 NS067189 (current)
- NIH / NICHD / NCMRR K01 HD050369 (current)
- Foundation for Physical Therapy (2009-2010)