Brain networks for specific motor control impairments following stroke

项目摘要/摘要

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The objective of the parent grant (R01 HD094731) is to determine if combining TheraBracelet with hand task practice is superior to hand task practice alone for recovery of hand function post-stroke in an adequately powered study. The parent grant Aim 2 focuses on determining the effect of TheraBracelet on sensorimotor grip control and neural communication within the cortical sensorimotor network. This diversity supplement will provide a new insight into the neural mechanisms for different grip control impairments among individual stroke survivors. Specifically, the aim of this diversity supplement is to determine the brain network responsible for the feedforward and feedback motor control in stroke survivors. It is hypothesized that feedforward motor control will be associated with connectivity within the motor cortices during the motor planning phase, while feedback motor control will be associated with connectivity between the sensory and motor regions during the motor execution phase. This research is expected to unveil the specific brain network responsible for the feedforward and feedback motor control of the upper extremity. Innovation is in investigating brain networks and motor controls together. This new knowledge will be critical for the development of a personalized post-stroke rehabilitation paradigm: This paradigm may involve first assessing individual motor control processes to determine the specific motor control that is responsible for clinical motor impairment, followed by design of a personalized treatment to target the specific brain network responsible for the impaired motor control. Most importantly, this award will foster the underrepresented minority candidate (Mr. Adam Baker) as a career DPT/PhD researcher. The training activities will focus on developing new research skills for Mr. Baker to perform the supplement research and begin his research career. Specifically, Mr. Baker will (1) enhance the overall knowledge of the neurorehabilitation research field, (2) acquire proficiency in quantifying, analyzing, and interpreting feedforward and feedback motor control biomechanics data and EEG-based brain network data, and (3) develop a successful application for a DPT/PhD program. Therefore, this supplement award will contribute to enhancing diversity in the biomedical workforce, as only 2,000 females are American Indian or Alaskan Native out of 1.76 million employed scientists and engineers holding doctorates according to NSF report (data suppressed for males due to reliability).