Articles tagged with Motor Control
Researchers found that people born without upper limbs who use their feet to reach engage the same brain area as those with hands, revealing a higher-level motor function. This discovery advances basic science and offers potential clinical advances in improving limb prostheses.
Scientists have discovered that spinal modules in macaques can independently control forelimb force direction and magnitude, offering new insights into movement disorders and potential recovery methods. This finding, known as the 'spinal motor module hypothesis,' has significant implications for robotics and clinical medicine.
A $2.5 million Simons Foundation grant is supporting an international collaboration of neuroscientists to develop new tools for studying brain control over behavior across species, from songbirds to rats. The project aims to create a framework for understanding motor agility in any species or behavior.
A new study in mice reveals that a specific group of neurons in the brainstem control the direction of walking movements by applying the 'brake' to one side of the body. This discovery has significant implications for understanding motor disorders and could lead to new treatments.
Early alcohol exposure affects motor control brain regions in monkeys, and may be detectable via non-invasive in utero MRI. The study suggests that diagnostic tools for fetal alcohol syndrome could be developed as early as the third trimester.
Researchers successfully implanted an artificial neural connection, enabling a paralyzed animal's new cortical site to regain voluntary control of its hand. The study also shows that this technology can impart motor control functions to previously unassociated areas of the cerebral cortex.
Researchers found short-term impairments in brain-to-muscle communication and decreased memory performance after nine-minute boxing sparring sessions. The study suggests that routine impacts in sports like football and other combat sports may pose health risks.
A new study reveals that a simple genetic system controls complex motor movements in fruit flies, which shares similarities with human movements such as rolling in babies. This discovery provides insights into the molecular basis of motor control and its relationship to diseases like Huntington's and Parkinson's.
Scientists have identified specific cellular features that enable certain motor neurons to resist ALS, such as the ability to discard damaged proteins and withstand cellular stress. The findings offer a breakthrough in understanding neurodegeneration and potentially developing treatments to make all neurons ALS-resistant.
A NEOMED researcher has designed a therapeutic intervention to help preterm infants suck, swallow and breathe. The study uses an animal model to measure feeding and breathing coordination in newborns, with the goal of developing a rehabilitation strategy for preterm infants.
Researchers found that neurons in the motor cortex divide into externally focused and internally focused groups, with externally focused neurons controlling different body parts and internally focused neurons communicating only within the group. The study's findings have implications for brain disorders such as Rett Syndrome, which may...
Researchers discovered that neurons in the motor cortex modify their activity as we reach and grasp for objects, allowing groups of neurons to work together to perform precise movements. This finding has significant implications for neuro-prosthetics and brain-computer interfaces.
Researchers from the BrainGate consortium demonstrate a brain-computer interface that allows people with paralysis to navigate and interact with off-the-shelf tablet devices. Participants were able to perform various tasks, including messaging, browsing, and music playback, with accuracy and speed.
Researchers found that singing reduced physiological indicators of stress, improved mood, and enhanced motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease. The therapy showed promise as a non-pharmacological approach to manage the condition.
The MoreGrasp project developed a sensoric grasp neuroprosthesis controlled by thought, enabling users to perform daily activities with ease. The technique uses 'attempted movement' signals, allowing for more precise control and improved learning through brain-computer interface training.
A team of researchers identified the gene 'TRP-1' and 'TRP-2', which enable balanced and smooth body movements in C. elegans, a simple nervous system model. The study suggests that TRP-1 and TRP-2 are proprioception sense receptors controlling neural activity and muscle movement.
Researchers found that individual aspects of parenting, such as motor behaviors and motivation, are controlled by distinct pools of galanin neurons. This discovery sheds new light on why some people appear to be natural parents while others exhibit abusive behavior.
Scientists discovered a motor nerve dedicated to papillary and skin tension control in the stellate ganglion, allowing papillae to hold shape for over an hour. The study also found similarities between the neural circuit controlling papillae and squid skin iridescence.
Researchers have discovered a key mechanism enabling stroke survivors to lift affected arms by tapping into 'backup' motor systems, bypassing damaged regions. This adaptive strategy involves involuntary activation of the elbow flexor muscles, which can be harnessed for improved movement control.
A novel hand-exoskeleton has been developed to help physically impaired individuals, and researchers have found that brainwave control can be improved with feedback. The device uses EEG headsets to measure brainwaves and provide motor control through a combination of user-driven brain-machine interface and proprioception-based feedback.
In a new study, researchers identified the mechanism that suppresses development of connections between corticospinal neurons and motor neurons in mice shortly after birth. By selectively deleting receptors, they found that one particular receptor, PlexA1, is responsible for suppressing these connections.
Researchers found that young adults with ADHD produced more force during continuous motor tasks and had difficulty inhibiting motor responses compared to those without ADHD. This study suggests that inhibitory motor control problems may be a unique identifier for adults with ADHD.
Researchers found that inosine treatment led to improved motor control in four out of four treated monkeys, with three returning to their pre-operative grasping methods. The study suggests neural plasticity as a therapeutic target for recovering fine motor control and grasping ability after brain injury.
A new quantitative assessment called Walk-DMC predicts which children with cerebral palsy are likely to benefit from invasive surgeries. Higher Walk-DMC scores before treatment correlate with better surgical outcomes.
Researchers at Duke University have successfully established brain-to-brain networks in primates and rodents, allowing them to work together to complete simple tasks. The brain networks, or Brainets, enable animals to exchange sensory and motor information in real-time, controlling movement and even predicting weather patterns.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have updated Penfield's motor homunculus by showing the neck's motor control region in the brain is between the shoulders and trunk. This finding may help guide future studies and medical interventions for cervical dystonia and other disorders involving abnormal head movements.
Researchers have developed brain-controlled devices that decode brain signals to determine user intentions and orchestrate movements. The use of shared control empowers users to perform complex tasks with high accuracy, mirroring natural motor control.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a novel osseointegrated implant system, enabling patients to control prosthetic arms with direct bone-anchored connections. The technology allows for long-term stable fusion between man and machine, providing mechanical stability and intimate union.
Research reveals that stroke patients' motor function in their unaffected hands can deteriorate despite rehabilitation. After two weeks of treatment, motor function in the unaffected hand showed significant improvement.
A team of scientists at UCL and King's College London has developed a technique to restore function to paralyzed muscles using light-activated neurons created from stem cells. The method involves transplanting these motor neurons into injured nerve branches, which can be controlled by adjusting blue light pulses.
Researchers at Duke University have enabled monkeys to control two virtual arms using their brain activity. The study advances efforts to develop bilateral movement in brain-controlled prosthetic devices, aiming to restore mobility and sense of touch in severely paralyzed patients.
Research by Valeska Gatica Rojas and colleagues found that children with diplegic cerebral palsy exhibit weaker postural balance control ability and less standing stability compared to hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients. Rehabilitation physicians can benefit from this knowledge to tailor their treatment approaches for improved outcomes.
A 20-year study found that LIS patients can achieve remarkable communication and mobility independence with rehabilitation and technology, including head-tracking and wheelchair control. Patients can even write, communicate, and play computer games with minimal functions.
Research finds that fine motor control skills continue to develop until adolescence, contradicting previous beliefs. The study uses a new tool to measure fine motor control and demonstrates its applicability in children as old as 16 years.
A clinical trial investigated the use of Exenatide, a diabetes drug, in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study found that patients receiving Exenatide showed significant improvements in motor skills and cognitive ability after one year of treatment.
A team of UCSF researchers has uncovered the neurological basis of speech motor control, revealing a hierarchical and cyclical structure that exerts split-second control over articulators in fluent speech. The study has potential implications for developing computer-brain interfaces and treating speech disorders.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have created Access4Kids, a wireless input device that translates physical movements into fine-motor gestures to control tablets. The device allows children with fine motor impairments to access off-the-shelf apps and custom-made apps for therapy and science education.
A study found a shared genetic link between rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism, a rare movement disorder, and psychiatric problems like anxiety, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Researchers believe the ATP1A3 genetic mutation may contribute to mental illness in individuals with the condition.
A neural interface has restored function in motor control brain areas of an amputee, allowing for natural control of a prosthetic hand. The study used multielectrode arrays to re-establish communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems.
A team of researchers from Aalto University and international partners found a genuine hypnotic state through studying the 'trance stare' associated with hypnosis. The study showed a dramatic reduction in eye movements beyond volitional control, confirming an altered mental state.
This study found that chronic alcoholics' gait and balance can continue to recover with long-term abstinence from alcohol. However, deficits can persist, especially in eyes-closed standing balance. The results suggest that impaired brain functions appear to recover with extended abstinence.
Researchers used innovative fMRI technique to pinpoint areas of the brain dedicated solely to language. Eight out of nine analyzed regions uniquely supported language tasks, while remaining regions showed no activation for non-language tasks.
Researchers at Indiana University suggest that postural control problems may be a core feature of bipolar disorder, affecting areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. The study found that participants with bipolar disorder displayed increased postural sway, particularly when eyes were closed.
Octopuses have been shown to make complex movements, such as navigating through mazes, using visual information. The study reveals that they can direct a single arm in a coordinated movement to retrieve food rewards.
Scientists have successfully developed a technique to decode brain signals associated with speech and movement. By analyzing frequency of brain wave activity, patients can learn to control a computer cursor by thinking or saying specific sounds, marking the beginning of 'reading minds' technology.
Research finds that Tourette's brains exhibit structural and functional changes that enable greater cognitive motor control, allowing individuals to suppress tics more accurately. This discovery may lead to new treatments, such as brain training approaches, to help individuals manage symptoms without medication.
A breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology could allow people to control prosthetic arms using only their thoughts. Researchers at Washington University have developed an Electroencephalography grid (EECoG) system that can detect specific brain signals, enabling users to control a virtual arm with unprecedented precision.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has shown that treating injured rat spinal cords with the enzyme sialidase improves nerve regrowth, motor recovery, and nervous system function. The treatment also showed improvements in blood pressure control and increased number of sprouted nerve ends.
A major study found that patients with Parkinson's disease respond similarly to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at two different brain targets, challenging current beliefs. Motor symptoms such as tremor and stiffness improved equally in both groups.
Aging population faces limitations with technology due to age-related changes such as vision and hearing difficulties, motor control issues, and cognitive decline. Psychologists propose web design improvements like larger fonts, navigation aids, and instructional support to alleviate stress and improve usability.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an artificial neuromuscular junction that can relay motor and sensory electrical impulses, potentially improving fine motor control and restoring the sense of touch. The bioengineered interface was tested in laboratory rats and showed promising results.
According to evolutionary biologist Alan Walker, human fine motor control limits strength compared to chimps. Humans use fewer muscle fibers for tasks, while chimps use more due to less motor neuron control. This allows humans to conserve energy and perform delicate tasks, but may also limit their physical endurance.
Researchers develop a new TMS method that produces controllable and long-lasting effects on the human motor cortex. The method uses short bursts of low-intensity pulses to overcome previous stimulation approaches' limitations.
University of Oregon researchers Paul Dassonville and Jagdeep Kaur Bala found that the distinction between perception and action streams is oversimplified. Their study revealed that slight manipulations of an illusion led to a new realization, where the 'right' physical movements were made despite inaccurate visual perceptions.
Researchers Konrad Körding and colleagues used utility functions, commonly used in economics, to analyze motor control. They found a surprising amount of agreement on preferred movements and a counterintuitive result that longer resistance was preferred over stronger resistance.
The study found that increasing neuronal activity in the region enhances flinch responses, while decreasing activity reduces sustained defensive movements. This suggests the polysensory zone is a hotspot for processing specific stimuli related to body defense.
A study by McGill scientists identifies a new function for the Runx1 gene in the development of hindbrain visceral motor nerve cells. These cells regulate internal environment stability and vital functions such as blood pressure and heart rate.
A new brain-based controller mimics the human olivo-cerebellar system to enable precise movement control. The system will be tested on a mobile autonomous research vehicle to replicate complex maneuvers and wing control of birds and insects.
Research found extensive changes in brain processing of simple motor movements in patients with all three illnesses. The primary motor cortex took over hand motion control in some cases, while others relied on the cerebellum for coordination.
In a breakthrough study, monkeys were trained to move balls around on a screen using brain signals, achieving accuracy and speed comparable to normal arm movements. The technique has implications for people with paralysis who may be able to learn to control prosthetic limbs through thought control.