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。该项目开发了两个目标：(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。研究目标集中在利用工程科学来严格描述灵巧操作的特征，并区分手的被动和主动生物元素对稳定操作的相对贡献。为了实现这些目标，一种综合和跨学科的方法将以一种独特的方式结合非线性动力学、机器人学、生物力学和神经生理学。提出了三个具体的研究方向：(1)利用分叉理论对人体灵巧操作进行了实验分析。(2)利用功能磁共振成像和肌电图仪对灵巧操作过程中的脑和肌肉活动进行表征。以及，(3)使用多指手指的计算机生物力学模型来预测在有和没有神经活动的情况下灵活性的极限，并使用机器人操作器来测试这些极限。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，并极大地扩展机械手的能力。PI之前的工作为个体手指静力产生的神经肌肉生物力学奠定了理论、计算机建模和实验基础。这一基础将被扩展：(1)通过使用非线性动力学分析(使得能够使用降阶模型)来研究在这个复杂系统中从动态稳定到不稳定的转变，以及(2)通过在多位数操作的综合计算机模型的背景下整合大脑、肌肉和生物力学测量。从研究人类手中获得的理解将有助于提高人类(临床应用)和机器(机器人操作器)的灵巧操作。教育目标是发展一个融合工程学和神经科学的跨学科教育网络，这将对生物工程教育产生广泛影响。这种教育方法将促进从高中生到实习研究人员和临床医生的不同人群对神经肌肉生物力学的发现。教育和研究将通过以下方式整合：1)创建神经肌肉生物力学的本科生和研究生教育计划，以改进和拓宽工程学课程；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)向神经科学、运动控制、手治疗和手外科的研究人员和临床医生宣传工程概念和方法的重要性。

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.