Cerebellar function and rehabilitative strategies

项目摘要/摘要 小脑损伤会导致运动协调障碍或“共济失调”--尽管力量正常，但运动是可变和不准确的。小脑损伤导致这些缺陷的原因尚不清楚。一个突出的理论是，小脑校准和维护潜意识的内部模型，或身体部位和物体的动态特性(如惯性、粘度)的知识。该项目旨在验证这一理论，并确定是否可以使用机器人设备来弥补这些缺陷。第一个目标将检查运动缺陷是否由于对小脑中手臂动态特性的错误估计，以及它是否可以得到补偿。这将通过比较有小脑损伤的个体的手臂动作与对照受试者的动作以及使用计算模型的模拟来实现。然后，外骨骼机器人将被用于纠正已识别的运动损伤。第二个目标将研究小脑缺陷是否超越了运动控制，延伸到对动态特性的感知。预计这些个体将不会有基本的感觉缺陷(例如肢体位置感觉)，但将难以感知依赖于运动和感觉处理的动态特性。基于这些发现，机器人将被用于测试改善感知缺陷的策略。 调查员将接受神经科学、神经学、数学和机器人方面的培训，以便进行这项工作。这将通过教学工作、参加研讨会和在实验室进行实践培训来实现。这项工作对于理解和开发新的小脑损伤康复治疗方法具有重要意义。这一点特别重要，因为目前还没有被证明有效的治疗小脑性共济失调的方法。

Project Summary/Abstract Cerebellar damage causes motor coordination deficits or 'ataxia'-movements are variable and inaccurate, despite normal strength. Why cerebellar damage leads to these deficits is not understood. One prominent theory is that the cerebellum calibrates and maintains subconscious internal models, or knowledge of dynamic properties (e.g. inertia, viscosity), of body parts and objects. This project is aimed at testing this theory and determining whether a robotic device can be used to compensate for these deficits. The first aim will examine whether movement deficits are due to a misestimate of arm dynamic properties in the cerebellum, and whether it can be compensated for. This will be accomplished by comparing arm movements of individuals that have cerebellar damage with movements of control subjects and with simulations using computational models. An exoskeleton robot will then be used to correct for the identified movement impairments. The second aim will examine whether cerebellar deficits extend beyond movement control to perception of dynamic properties. It is expected that these individuals will not have basic sensory deficits (e.g. limb position sense), but will have difficulty perceiving dynamic properties that rely on both movement and sensory processing. Based on these findings, the robot will be used to test strategies for improving perceptual deficits. The investigator will receive training in neuroscience, neurology, mathematics, and robotics in order to conduct this work. This will be accomplished through didactic work, seminar attendance, and hands on training in the laboratory. This work is important for understanding and developing novel rehabilitation treatments for individuals with cerebellar damage. It is particularly important because there are currently no proven treatments for cerebellar ataxia.