Cerebellar function and rehabilitative strategies

小脑损伤导致运动协调缺陷或“共济失调”-运动是可变的和不准确的，尽管正常的力量。为什么小脑损伤导致这些缺陷尚不清楚。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（例如惯性，粘性）的知识。该项目旨在测试这一理论，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是由于对小脑中手臂动力学特性的错误估计，以及它是否可以得到补偿。这将通过比较具有小脑损伤的个体的手臂运动与对照受试者的运动以及使用计算模型的模拟来实现。然后将使用外骨骼机器人来校正所识别的运动障碍。第二个目标将检查小脑缺陷是否超出运动控制，以感知动态特性。预计这些个体不会有基本的感觉缺陷（例如肢体位置感），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，机器人将用于测试改善感知缺陷的策略。 研究者将接受神经科学、神经病学、数学和机器人技术方面的培训，以便开展这项工作。这将通过教学工作，参加研讨会，并在实验室动手培训。这项工作对于理解和开发小脑损伤患者的新型康复治疗方法非常重要。这是特别重要的，因为目前还没有证明小脑共济失调的治疗方法。

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.