Research & Centers

Center for Cerebral Palsy Research

The Center for Cerebral Palsy Research focuses on elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying hand impairment in children with CP, as well as development and testing of new treatments aimed at ameliorating these impairments. Presently we are examining efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy and Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT).

Movement Science Laboratories

Facilities

The Movement Science laboratories were recently upgraded to cutting edge technology for the study of movement with support from a National Science Foundation Major Instrumentation Grant.

The Motor Learning and Control Lab has a state-of-the-art kinematics (VICON) lab for biomechanical description of human movement. The system is interfaced with two force plates to study center of mass changes associated with gait and other voluntary movements. To study hand motor control, we have Nano and Mini ATI force/torque sensors for measurement of multi-digit fingertip force control, a CyberGlove for monitoring finger motion, a 3-D electromagnetic position-angle sensing system, analog-to-digital data acquisition systems (National Instruments, SC/ZOOM); three 3D motion registration systems (Optotrak), an eyetracker to study hand-eye coordination, and setups for recording surface electromyographic signals and electroencephalographic signals, and a variety of other instruments.

The Appled Exercise Physiology Lab is fully equipped to study non-invasive physiological processes. Equipment includes metabolic measurement systems for functional capacity (VO₂max) and metabolic testing BMR and REE), electrocardiograph machines (ECG) and ECG (oscilloscopes) for the recording of electrocardiogramst, beat-to-beat blood pressure monitors (Finapres and Tonometer) for the recording of beat-to-beat blood pressures, a Doppler Milar probe for contour analysis used on any artery (carotid, radial and femoral) as a noninvasive marker of arteriolar compliance, nitric oxide (NO) analyzers used for the noninvasive determination of nitric oxide in expired gases or body fluids, an echotracker and Tektronix oscilloscope for the noninvasive determination of vascular lumen size changes. These systems are used in conjunction with a computerized Grass polygraph (multichannel) recorder.  Other equipment include a beat-to-beat portable (24 hour) blood pressure monitor (Portapres) for ambulatory recordings, a water-seal spirometer and handheld spirometers for the determination of pulmonary function tests, handheld body impedance analysis (BIA) devices for the measurement of body composition and 5 sets of skinfold calipers, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes, cycle ergometers, and a data acquisition analysis system (National Instruments).

Please contact the if there is information missing from this list.