Cerebellar function and rehabilitative strategies

描述（由申请人提供）：小脑损伤导致运动协调缺陷或“共济失调”——尽管力量正常，但运动变化和不准确。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，小脑校准和维持潜意识的内部模型，或对身体部位和物体的动态特性（如惯性、粘度）的知识。该项目旨在测试这一理论，并确定机器人设备是否可以用来弥补这些缺陷。第一个目的是检查运动缺陷是否由于小脑对手臂动力特性的错误估计，以及是否可以补偿。这将通过比较小脑损伤个体的手臂运动与对照组的运动以及使用计算模型的模拟来完成。然后，外骨骼机器人将用于纠正已识别的运动障碍。第二个目标将检查小脑缺陷是否超出运动控制延伸到动态特性的感知。预计这些个体不会有基本的感觉缺陷（如肢体位置感），但会在感知依赖于运动和感觉处理的动态特性方面有困难。基于这些发现，机器人将用于测试改善感知缺陷的策略。为了开展这项工作，研究者将接受神经科学、神经学、数学和机器人方面的培训。这将通过教学工作、参加研讨会和在实验室的实践培训来完成。这项工作对于理解和开发针对小脑损伤个体的新型康复治疗具有重要意义。这一点尤其重要，因为目前还没有针对小脑性共济失调的有效治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This research will improve understanding of the role of the cerebellum in movement control and perception. It will advance our knowledge of the neural control of arm movements and lead to improvements in rehabilitation for patients with cerebellar damage.