CAREER: Educational Program in Neuromuscular Biomechanics and Uncovering the Neuromuscular Biomechanics of Dexterous Manipulation

这个为期五年的职业发展项目为康奈尔大学神经肌肉生物力学的跨学科教育和研究奠定了基础。该项目有两个目标：(a)揭示灵巧操作的神经肌肉生物力学；(b)将工程学和神经科学整合到一个跨学科的教育网络中。灵巧性在工程意义上被定义为能够进行稳定的动态操作。研究目标集中在用工程科学来严格表征灵巧操作，并区分手的被动和主动生物元件对稳定操作的相对贡献。为了实现这些目标，一个综合的和跨学科的方法将结合非线性动力学，机器人，生物力学和神经生理学以一种独特的方式。提出了三个具体的研究方向：(1)利用分岔理论对人体灵巧操作进行实验分析。(2)利用功能性MRI和肌电图表征灵巧操作过程中大脑和肌肉的活动。并且，(3)使用多指手的计算机生物力学模型来预测有和没有神经活动的灵巧性极限，并使用机器人操纵器测试这些极限。了解人类灵巧操作的神经肌肉生物力学将彻底改变对生物运动功能的理解，有助于手部损伤的诊断和治疗，并极大地扩展机器人手的能力。PI先前的工作为单个手指产生静力的神经肌肉生物力学建立了理论、计算机建模和实验基础。这个基础将被扩展：(1)通过使用非线性动力学分析（允许使用降阶模型）来研究这个复杂系统从动态稳定到不稳定的转变；(2)在一个综合的多指操作计算机模型的背景下，通过整合大脑、肌肉和生物力学测量。从研究人手中获得的理解将有助于提高人类（临床应用）和机器（机器人操纵器）的灵巧操作。教育目标是建立一个集工程和神经科学为一体的跨学科教育网络，这将对生物工程教育产生广泛的影响。教育方法将促进发现神经肌肉生物力学在不同的人群跨越高中学生实践研究人员和临床医生。教育和研究将通过以下方式相结合：1)创建神经肌肉生物力学的本科和研究生教育计划，以改善和拓宽工程课程；2)积极促进来自代表性不足群体的高中生和本科生参与神经肌肉生物力学研究的机会；3)倡导工程概念和方法对神经科学，运动控制，手部治疗和手外科的研究人员和临床医生的重要性。

0237258Valero-CuevasThis five-year CAREER Development project establishes the foundation for interdisciplinary education and research in neuromuscular biomechanics at Cornell University. The project develops two objectives: (a) uncover the neuromuscular biomechanics of dexterous manipulation; and (b) integrate engineering and neuroscience into an interdisciplinary educational network.Dexterity is defined in the engineering sense of being able to perform stable dynamic manipulation. Research objectives focus on using engineering science to rigorously characterize dexterous manipulation, and to distinguish between the relative contributions of passive and active biological elements of the hand to stabilize manipulation. To achieve these goals, an integrative and interdisciplinary approach will combine nonlinear dynamics, robotics, biomechanics, and neurophysiology in a unique manner. Three specific investigations are proposed: (1) Analyze human dexterous manipulation experimentally using bifurcation theory. (2) Characterize brain and muscle activity during dexterous manipulation using functional MRI and electromyography. And, (3) use a computer biomechanical model of a multi-digit hand to predict the limits of dexterity with and without neural activity, and test these limits using a robotic manipulator. Understanding the neuromuscular biomechanics of dexterous manipulation in humans will revolutionize understanding of biological motor function, aid in the diagnosis and treatment of hand impairment, and greatly expand the capabilities of robotic hands. The PI's previous work established a theoretical, computer modeling, and experimental foundation for the neuromuscular biomechanics of static force production of individual digits. This foundation will be expanded: (1) by using nonlinear dynamical analysis (to enable the use of reduced order models) to study the transitions from dynamical stability to instability in this complex system and (2) by integrating cerebral, muscular and biomechanical measurements in the context of a comprehensive computer model of multi-digit manipulation. The understanding gained from studying the human hand will be instrumental to improving dexterous manipulation in humans (clinical applications) and machines (robotic manipulators). The educational objective is to develop an interdisciplinary educational network that integrates engineering and neuroscience, which will have a broad impact on bioengineering education. The educational methodology will promote discovery in neuromuscular biomechanics among a diverse population spanning from high school students to practicing researchers and clinicians. Education and research will be integrated by: 1) Creating an undergraduate and graduate educational program in neuromuscular biomechanics to improve and broaden the engineering curriculum, 2) Actively promoting opportunities for high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups to become involved in neuromuscular biomechanics research and 3) advocating the importance of engineering concepts and methods to researchers and clinicians in neuroscience, motor control, hand therapy, and hand surgery.