Neural rehabilitation engineering

Neural Rehabilitation Engineering

Our neural faculty work on modeling and simulation of neural systems to gain insight into neural function, neural signal acquisition and analysis, and the development of specialized technology to evaluate and treat individuals with neural and biomechanical pathologies.

Explore the list of our faculty who work in this research area below.

Christopher Buneo

Christopher Buneo
Associate Professor

Expertise
Neural engineering, neuromodulation, neurorehabilitation, neurophysiology, sensorimotor control

Laboratory: The Visuomotor Learning Lab seeks to understand how the brain combines different forms of sensory and motor information to help plan, execute, and adapt movements (‘sensorimotor integration’). They are particularly interested in how uncertainty associated with movement planning and execution leads to variability in motor performance. The long term goals of this lab’s research are to improve and enhance human motor performance through the development of brain-centered training protocols and assistive technologies that interface directly with the nervous system.

Bradley Greger

Bradley Greger
Associate Professor

Expertise
Neural engineering, movement disorders, vision restoration, seizure disorders

Laboratory: The Neural Engineering Laboratory utilizes current neuroscientific understanding and neural engineering principles to translate clinical needs into devices which improve patient care and outcomes. Electrophysiological recordings and electrical micro-stimulation are used to gain an understanding of how the nervous system processes information related to various sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. The results of these experiments are then used to guide the implementation of medical devices and therapies for the treatment of various neural pathologies. We perform electrophysiological research with human patients using arrays of micro-electrodes arrays to improve our understanding of movement and seizure disorders.

Claire Honeycutt

Claire Honeycutt
Assistant Professor

Expertise
Clinical Biomechanics, Motor Control, Stroke, Falls, Orthotics

Laboratory: The Human Mobility Lab supports two major research thrusts: fall prevention and enhancing arm function. The main objective is to work with clinicians to enhance rehabilitation strategies at the hospital, clinic, and home.

Jeff Kleim

Jeff Kleim
Associate Professor

Expertise
Neural plasticity, neurorehabilitation, stroke

Laboratory: The Human Mobility Lab supports two major research thrusts: fall prevention and enhancing arm function. The main objective is to work with clinicians to enhance rehabilitation strategies at the hospital, clinic, and home.

Thurmon Lockhart

Thurmon Lockhart
Professor, MORE Foundation Professor of Life in Motion

Expertise
Neural engineering, sensorimotor deficits associated with aging and neurological disorders from fall accidents

Laboratory: Locomotion Lab focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms associated with movement disorders leading to fall accidents using a combination of experimental and computational biomechanical and biodynamical techniques to reduce falls and improve human health.

Jit Muthuswamy

Jit Muthuswamy
Associate Professor

Expertise
Neural Interfaces, neuromodulation, BioMEMS

Laboratory: The Neural Microsystems Laboratory. The Neural Microsystems laboratory focuses on the development of long-term, implantable sensors and instrumentation for the central and peripheral nervous system for neural prostheses and for therapeutic solutions in bioelectronic medicine.

Rosalind Sadleir

Rosalind Sadleir
Associate Professor

Expertise
Neuro imaging and neural activity detection, dynamic physiological monitoring, computational modeling

Laboratory: Research in the Neuro-electricity Lab is concerned with modeling and imaging biological conditions using targeted electrical methods. Work in the lab varies from the very practical (including device design and commercial development) to the conceptual and theoretical.

Marco Santello

Marco Santello
Professor

Expertise
Neural control of movement, sensorimotor learning, neuromodulation, neuroimaging, prosthetics

Laboratory: The Neural Control of Movement Laboratory focuses on the hand as a model to investigate the mechanisms underlying sensorimotor integration responsible for motor learning and control. Research thrusts include the role of vision and tactile input for learning and controlling object manipulation, neural mechanisms underlying the synergistic control of multiple hand muscles, and the effect of neurological disorders and neuropathies on hand control. The research has potential for improving the efficacy of rehabilitation of hand function following surgery as well as neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, dystonia and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Sydney Schaefer

Sydney Schaefer
Assistant Professor

Expertise
Motor control and learning, cognitive neuroscience, clinical neurorehabilitation

Laboratory: The Motor Rehabilitation and Learning Lab is focused on the principles and neural mechanisms of functional motor skill learning to better inform clinical neurorehabilitation. We are particularly interested in aging and how specific cognitive impairments do or do not interfere with older adults’ ability to acquire upper extremity motor skill through experience. Our work incorporates neuropsychological, behavioral, and neuroimaging approaches to studying the human nervous system.”

Stephen Helms Tillery

Stephen Helms Tillery
Associate Professor

Expertise
Cortical neurophysiology, neural control of movement, neuroprosthetics, neural engineering ethics

Laboratory: The Sensorimotor Research Group analyzes sensorimotor learning and representations in the nervous system, and neural mechanisms, which enable the brain to carry out fine motor skills. Within their research, the group duplicates the process, seeking to advance the ability to create more lifelike prosthetics that respond to brain signals.