Influence of altered sensory input and Cortical Asymmetry on Movement Induced Plasticity

我的研究重点是理解当运动技能习得发生在改变的感觉输入的情况下，神经可塑性的差异，以及大脑功能和手偏好的偏侧是如何影响这一点的。适应性（有益的）可塑性增强运动学习和表现；而适应性不良（有害的）可塑性会导致错误的运动模式，降低运动表现的速度和准确性，并产生受伤的可能性。在职业、娱乐或运动环境中，我们经常在外部感官刺激（如振动或疼痛）存在的情况下学习新的运动技能。这项发现资助研究了改变的感觉输入，如疼痛，如何影响运动诱导的可塑性是适应的还是不适应的。手优势或侧性是终身使用依赖可塑性的一个模型，本研究还试图了解优势肢体和非优势肢体之间的运动控制差异如何影响运动训练对适应或不适应可塑性的潜在影响

My research is focused on understanding differences in neural plasticity when motor skill acquisition occurs in the presence of altered sensory inputs, and how lateralization of brain function and hand preference factor into this. Adaptive (beneficial) plasticity enhances motor learning and performance; while maladaptive (harmful) plasticity leads to faulty movement patterns, decreasing speed and accuracy of motor performance, and creating the potential for injury. In occupational, recreational or sporting contexts, we are often learning new motor skills while extraneous sensory stimuli such as vibration or pain are present. This Discovery Grant addresses how altered sensory inputs such as pain, influence whether movement induced plasticity is adaptive or maladaptive. Hand dominance or laterality is a model of lifelong use-dependent plasticity and this research also seeks to understand how motor control differences between the Dominant (Dom) and non-dominant (NonDom) limbs influences the potential for adaptive or maladaptive plasticity in response to motor training My long term goal is to advance our fundamental understanding of the factors that influence motor training induced plasticity. My short term objectives are: 1) explore the neural mechanisms by which altered sensory input during motor acquisition tasks leads to either enhanced or impaired sensorimotor plasticity; 2) Compare sensorimotor responses of the Dom and NonDom limbs when task requirements are manipulated to favour either predictive or impedance control of limb dynamics 3) Determine whether there are differences between the Dom and NonDom limbs when motor sequence acquisition takes place in the presence of pain. Novelty and Impact: My innovative approach will advance our understanding of how sensory disruptions during motor training either enhance or interfere with use-dependent plasticity. This is fundamental knowledge because we are often learning new motor skills while extraneous sensory stimuli such as vibration or pain are present. In our modern world, technology use has meant that we are constantly called upon to master novel motor skills, and often we are called upon to use both hands. It is critical to understand hemispheric differences in neural mechanisms of motor skill acquisition so that advances in technology design lead to adaptive plasticity rather than to maladaptive plasticity and injury. Investigating factors which may contribute to our capacity for adaptive plasticity is critical in this era of modern technology use, and has important implications for both ergonomics and rehabilitation.