In our lab, we study how the brain and muscles change following a stroke. We do this using a variety of tools and experiments. To look at the brain and its activity, we may utilize an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) machine located in a nearby building or place an EEG cap on your head with many sensors that record the electrical activity of your brain. We may also place a temporary cast on your arm and ask you to perform certain movements while we monitor activity in your muscles. Finally, we may either move your arm with a robot or activate your muscles with electrical stimulation in order to see how your arm reacts. It is always up to you if you want to participate in individual components of our studies. Please contact Carolina Carmona for more information about these studies.

If you would like to participate in a study following a stroke, you must have suffered from a stroke more than 1 year ago. The stroke must have affected your ability to move your arm. If you have suffered more than 1 stroke then you DO NOT qualify to volunteer for these research studies.

If you would like to participate in a study as a control, you must have never suffered a stroke or other type of traumatic brain injury.

In our lab, we study how the brain and muscles develop when children have hemiplegia, or weakness on one side of the body, from a young age. This often means a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (specifically, hemiplegic cerebral palsy), but not always. We do this using a variety of tools and experiments. To look at the brain and its activity, we may utilize an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) machine located in a nearby building or use non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS - transcranial magnetic stimulation) to see how your muscles react. We may also place a temporary cast on your arm(s) and ask you to perform certain movements while we monitor activity in your muscles. It is always up to you and your parents if you want to participate in individual components of our studies. Please contact Theresa Moulton if you are interested in getting more information about these studies.

If you have had hemiplegia from a young age and would like to participate in a study, you must be between 6 and 35 years of age. You need to be able to follow directions and lift your arm and reach forward at least a little.

If you would like to participate in a study as a typically developing control, you must have no diagnosed movement disorders. You must also be between 6 and 35 years of age and be able to follow directions.

+Note: All individuals pictured on this page have given written consent for the display of their photo on this website.

Institutional Review Board project titles and numbers

(Principal Investigator: Julius P.A. Dewald)
0173-003: Effect of Neural Constraints on Movements in Stroke
0173-004: Cortical Mapping of the Upper Extremity Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
0173-010: Selective Dynamic Strength Training to Enhance Upper Limb Coordination Following Stroke
0173-011: Effect of Monoaminergic Drugs on Discoordination in Stroke
0173-013: Quantification of Gravity-Induced Dyscoordination During Upper Extremity Reaching in Individuals with Chronic Stroke
0173-014: The Role of the Cortex in Discoordination After Stroke
0173-015: Abnormal Joint Coupling in the Paretic Leg of Stroke Patients
0173-016: Monoaminergic Drive and Discoordination Following Stroke
0173-017: Cortical Activity Related to Abnormal Joint Torques Following Stroke

(Principal Investigator: Jun Yao)
1482-001: Motor Planning and Execution Related Cortical Activities Following Stroke

(Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Acosta)
1608-001: A 3-D Robot Design to Overcome Arm Dysfuncion in Stroke