Lab Equipment
Ongoing Research
Neuroplasticity and cerebral blood flow as key resilience mechanisms in the brains of fast-moving SuperAgers
Neuroplasticity is facilitated through physical movement and may provide a key neuroprotective mechanism by which some exceptional older adults maintain extremely high function well into the advanced stages of aging. This proposal will use an innovative and multimodal approach to characterize neuroplasticity and brain vascular function in a cohort of 75+ year-olds who walk at exceptionally fast speeds and are free of cognitive decline and dementia, and whom we have termed “fast-moving SuperAgers.” This proposal aims to substantially increase our current scientific knowledge of brain resilience in the face of advanced aging, with the goal of helping older adults maintain cognitive and physical function and prevent aging decline and disease.
Click HERE if you are interested in participating in this study.
Funded by: NIH DP2AG101104
Investigating the relationship between cerebrovascular health and brain neural function during reactive balance behavior with aging
In this project, we aim to understand how blood flow to the brain (measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD)), may contribute to neural processes (measured using EEG) that control balance in older adults and in individuals across the adult lifespan. We are also interested in testing brain blood flow response under conditions of physiologic stress, such as aerobic exercise, and whether this is linked to neural dysfunction in the brain.
We are testing the effect of APOE4 genotype, the strongest known genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, on the interaction between brain blood flow and neural function.
Click HERE if you are interested in participating in this study.
Funded by: NIH K99AG075255, R00AG075255
Completed Research
Cortical activity during reactive balance recovery and effects of stroke
Nonparetic leg compensation for balance and walking persists through the chronic stage of stroke recovery, but its influence on the neuromechanistic control of rapid recovery from loss of balance is unclear.
In this project we examined the effect of biased paretic versus nonparetic leg balance recovery on evoked cortical activity and biomechanical reactivity to standing balance perturbations post-stroke.
Funded by: NIH F32 HD096816, AHA 18POST34050047, NIH LRP AEIT3124
Cortico-cortical connectivity between the lesioned and nonlesioned hemisphere poststroke
After stroke, the nonlesioned hemisphere appears to play a salient role in the recovery of walking and functional mobility, yet the neural mechanisms by which this occurs remains poorly understood.
Here we used a multimodal neuroimaging approach (TMS-EEG) to more directly study functional connectivity between the lesioned and nonlesioned motor cortices after stroke and its association with clinical and biomechanical walking function.
Funded by: AHA 16POST29120001
Neuromodulation to enhance neuroplasticity and motor learning
Leveraging the brain's remarkable capacity for neuroplasticity is key element of learning and is essential for rehabilitation and recovery after stroke.
In this project we used paired associative stimulation (PAS) to modulate corticomotor excitability to the paretic hand muscles and cortico-cortical connectivity between brain regions (TMS-EEG) and tested the effect on skilled motor learning in people poststroke and neurotypical individuals.
Funded by: LSVT Global Small Student Research Grant
Corticomotor drive and walking function poststroke
In this study we investigated the association of corticomotor excitability with clinical and biomechanical walking function after stroke.
We also tested the effects of functional electrical stimulation during gait training on cortical plasticity and associated biomechanical walking changes.
Funded by: PODSII Scholarship, Foundation for Physical Therapy
