The role of naturalistic movements on the generalization of locomotor learning

康复机器人的一个主要问题是，像外骨骼和跑步机这样的设备只有在患者使用这些设备时才能纠正他们的动作。运动学习泛化的缺乏限制了机器人干预的效果。建议的工作将研究如何操纵机器人辅助运动学习，以增加其推广到正常人群和中风后患者的自然运动。这项研究对公共卫生有着广泛的影响，因为它旨在指导中风后有效步态康复技术的使用，中风是美国长期残疾的主要原因。此外，PI将利用本提案中的研究目标作为一种手段，通过从波多黎各的西班牙裔大学招募和指导本科生进行研究生培训，增加来自代表性不足群体的学生参与科学和工程。她还将把她的研究活动与匹兹堡大学的INVESTING NOW和Pitt EXCEL项目结合起来。这些项目帮助来自弱势群体的高中生攻读科学和工程学位，并在他们的本科学习期间指导他们，以确保他们的成功。劈带行走，即一条腿比另一条腿走得快，已被证明可以诱导未受损和中风后患者的运动学习。PI将使用分析工具来描述在跑步机上与在地面上行走时的运动统计数据。实证研究将确定是否可以改变分离式带跑步机上的学习阶段，以增强学习动作对自然步行的泛化。这项研究将为中风后患者提供运动学习机制方面的信息，并将提出在临床环境之外改善患者活动能力的方法。

A major issue in rehabilitation robotics is that devices like exoskeletons and treadmills correct patients' movements only while they are using the device. This lack of generalization of motor learning limits the efficacy of robotic interventions. The proposed work will investigate how to manipulate robotic-assisted motor learning to increase its generalization to natural movements in unimpaired people and post-stroke patients. The research has broad impact to public heath because it aims to guide the use of technology for effective gait rehabilitation after stroke, which is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. In addition, the PI will use the research objectives in this proposal as a means to increase the participation of students from under-represented groups in science and engineering by recruiting and mentoring undergraduate students from Hispanic-serving universities in Puerto Rico to pursue graduate training. She will also incorporate her research activities with the INVESTING NOW and Pitt EXCEL programs at The University of Pittsburgh. These programs prepare high school students from under-represented groups to pursue degrees in science and engineering and mentor them during their undergraduate studies to ensure their success. Split-belt walking, in which one leg moves faster than the other, has been shown to induce locomotor learning in the unimpaired and in post-stroke patients. The PI will use analytical tools to characterize the statistics of movements when walking on the treadmill vs. over ground. The empirical studies will determine if the learning phase on the split-belt treadmill can be altered to enhance the generalization of learned movements to natural walking. The research will be informative about motor learning mechanisms available to patients post-stroke and will suggest ways to improve their mobility beyond the clinical setting.