Understanding neuromusculoskeletal interactions underlying biomechanics and control of the human hand

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Dexterous hand function is a defining feature of the human identity. The hand is vitally important in nearly all activities of daily living, from getting dressed in the morning to preparing dinner in the evening. The fully opposable thumb is especially crucial to hand function, enabling interaction with objects and tools via gripping or pinching. While the hand’s versatility is a central theme in modern human ingenuity, its complex anatomy challenges our understanding of mechanical function and neuromuscular control. Successful performance of a hand-intensive task ultimately relies on the seamless interaction of neurophysiological (e.g. sensory and motor nerves) and biomechanical apparatus (e.g. muscles and tendons). However, there is an immense need to investigate how these systems interact with each other to preserve hand function, especially during complex occupational tasks that require online control of postures and grip forces. My research will use an innovative, inter-disciplinary approach to investigate hand biomechanics and neuromuscular control. This research will be organized in three themes: (1) Determining mechanical interactions; (2) Elucidating links between biomechanics and neurophysiology by experimentally manipulating sensorimotor pathways; (3) Developing a computer model capable of representing neuromusculoskeletal coupling within the hand.