Articles tagged with Motor Control
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.
Researchers discovered how brain filters sensory inputs to focus on specific smells, tastes, or sounds by hardwiring sensory and motor cortices. This mechanism enables immediate motor signals to enhance sensory perception, illustrating the intricate connection between sensation and motor control.
Researchers are developing new rehabilitation techniques to help mild stroke patients improve their attentional control, motor skills, and response consistency. The study aims to identify specific deficits and develop targeted therapies using magnetic resonance imaging.
Researchers have identified a brain region involved in planning movement, which also controls gain control of eye movements. This finding provides new insight into how the brain adjusts to moving objects, allowing for smooth image display.
A UC Davis researcher has discovered that damage to the insula region is a crucial impediment to motor control necessary for words and sentences. The insula, located deep within each hemisphere, is about two inches wide and contains a small area critical for coordinating speech sounds.