Current Research Projects

Motor Abnormalities Post-Stroke (MAPS)

The Motor control Abnormalities Post-Stroke (MAPS) project is a longitudinal study aimed at identifying early markers that predict specific motor control abnormalities in stroke survivors. Through a comprehensive approach, the project involves collecting baseline medical data, assessing neural damage using neuroimaging and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and evaluating motor function at various stages of recovery using clinical tests and electromyography (EMG). 

Specific Aims:

1. Define which early markers post-stroke predict the development of specific chronic motor control impairments.
2. Test hypotheses about neuroanatomical structures underlying each motor impairment and explore the trajectory of recovery for each impairment.

Electromyographic (EMG) Virtual Arm (EVA)

This project uses a novel electromyographic computer interface (ECI) system to rigorously characterize the time course of emergence and predictors of motor impairments in a simple muscle group (wrist flexor and extensors). In this ECI, surface EMG electrodes (Delsys Trigno) measure wrist flexor and extensor muscle activation, and these EMG signals control movement of a “Runner” in a computer game. Results will inform subsequent feasibility testing of an intensive, targeted biofeedback therapy in a select group of patients, laying the foundation for future studies of efficacy. 

Specific Aims:

1. Define which early markers post-stroke predict the development of chronic motor control impairments.
2. Assess feasibility of early ECI training on a subset of motor impairments.

MC-10

The MC-10 project aims to evaluate the efficacy of using wearable sensors to monitor rehabilitation exercise in both healthy individuals and patients who have weakness from stroke, and then examine whether providing feedback to the patient on their prior efforts leads to an increase in exercise activity. This project will serve as a foundation for future trials, examining the effect of different rehabilitation exercise “dose” on recovery. 

We aim to use MC10 sensors to monitor and quantify recovery of motor function longitudinally. We have received support in the form of 9 sensors from MC10, Inc. 

Specific Aims:

1. To develop an automated method for quantifying the frequency of upper extremity therapy exercises in patients recovering from stroke.
2. To study the effect of feedback about prior exercise efforts on subsequent patient exercise frequency.

Virtual Reality-based Tool for Identifying Central Versus Peripheral Vertigo (VRTIGO)

A pilot study developing and testing an automated system for rapid assessment of cerebellar and vestibular function capable of distinguishing central from peripheral causes of vertigo in the acute setting. 

The objective of this pilot study is to test the efficacy of, establish the reliability and validity of, and evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of a Virtual Reality (VR)-based vertigo assessment battery in the acute stroke setting by developing and testing a rapid, low-cost, objective system to assess for the risk of stroke in the emergency department (ED) setting. using commercial VR headsets to measure eye and fine motor movements in patients presenting with new-onset vertigo of indeterminate origin in ED, which generally requires clinical workup to eliminate stroke as the cause. Data collected from this battery will be compared to standard diagnostic tests, and used to develop a classification algorithm to predict whether the vertigo was caused by a non-urgent peripheral source or by an urgent central source like stroke.