Research Program

Our current program is split into three lines of work, focusing on the neural control of multi-joint reaching movements: 1) The roles of different sensory modalities in programming and executing reaching movements. 2) Learning and generalization of performance during practice under novel dynamic and visuomotor conditions. 3) The neural foundations of handedness. Handedness provides a natural window into the normal organization of the motor control system because interlimb differences in coordination appear to result from neurophysiological, in contrast to, biomechanical asymmetries. Recent findings from this laboratory indicate that handedness results from specialized contributions of each cerebral hemisphere to different aspects of motor control. Our research employs an interdisciplinary approach to studying basic mechanisms of motor control, and is ultimately directed toward effecting improvements in clinical rehabilitation.

All of these research programs are carried out in neurologically intact individuals, as well as in patients with neurological deficits. The long term goal of our laboratory is to advance our understanding of motor control and learning mechanisms and to apply this understanding toward improving clinical neurorehabilitation.

We have four laboratory facilities, currently in operation. Two facilities are located in the main Movement Neuroscience Laboratory in 27 Recreation Building, University Park, and in the Biomechanics Laboratory Suite, 29 Recreation Building. These facilities include virtual reality workstations and an MIT MANUS robotic maniupulandum. A third facility is located in the Neurology Department, Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. The fourth facility is located in Dr. Kathleen Haaland's laboratory at the New Mexico Veteran's Administration.