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2 Post-doctoral fellow positions in stroke research available
immediately
These positions will be co-mentored by Robert Sainburg at Penn State
University and Kathy Haaland at the New Mexico VA Medical Center
(NMVAMC) and the University of New Mexico. The two laboratories have
been collaborating for a number of years to address the mechanisms
underlying ipsilesional motor deficits in stroke. Both positions will
involve the use of kinematic, kinetic, and EMG analysis of multijoint
arm movements in stroke patients. Laboratory facilities in both the
Penn State and NMVAMC allow the use of both facilities for training.
Ideally, one position will be situated at Penn State and the other at
the NMVAMC. However, both positions will receive the benefit of dual
mentorship by Sainburg (Kinesiology/Neurology) and Haaland
(Neuropsychology). The ideal applicants will have an interest in
rehabilitation and stroke and training in biomechanics, kinesiology,
rehabilitation (PT/OT), or neuropsychology. A breif description of the
collaborative projects is given below. If interested, please contact
Robert Sainburg (rls45@psu.edu) by email, expressing your interest ASAP.
Ipsilesional Motor Deficits in Stroke:
Unilateral sensory-motor stroke can cause significant motor deficits
in the arm and leg on the same side of
the body as the lesion (ipsilesional), in addition to producing more
severe deficits on the opposite side of the
body (contralesional). While ipsilesional deficits have been
recognized in the clinic for decades, therapeutic
attention has understandably focused on the more severe nature of
contralesional deficits. However,
ipsilesional deficits have recently been shown to substantially limit
efficient performance of functional tasks,
including activities of daily living, in chronic stroke patients. Such
limitations are not difficult to understand given
that the ipsilesional arm tends to be used as the primary manipulator
for patients with persistent hemiparesis.
These coordination deficits are thought to result from diminished
contributions from the damaged hemisphere
to control of the arm on the same side of the body, an idea supported
by our preliminary studies. Our findings
suggest that the Dynamic Dominance model of motor lateralization can
predict the differential ipsilesional
deficits that result from either right or left hemisphere damage. The
proposed studies exploit the expertise of
two laboratories that have invested substantial effort in studying
motor lateralization (Sainburg), and
ipsilesional motor performance in stroke patients (Haaland). By
applying our model of motor lateralization to
examine ipsilesional coordination deficits, we hope to develop
principles that allow predictions of the effects of
left and right hemisphere damage on ipsilesional motor coordination
and motor learning in stroke patients.
Such principles should allow the development of more effective
remedial rehabilitation (OT/PT) intervention,
focused on promoting efficient functional performance. Our proposed
experiments examine targeted reaching
movements, using a custom designed virtual-reality system that allows
real-time display and recording of
bilateral arm movements.
Robert L. Sainburg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Neurology
Graduate Programs in Bioengineering and Neuroscience
Co-Director Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Huck Institutes
of Life Sciences
Pennsylvania State University
University Park PA 16802
Tel.: (814)-865-7938//Fax: (814)-8634755
http://www.personal.psu.edu/rls45
immediately
These positions will be co-mentored by Robert Sainburg at Penn State
University and Kathy Haaland at the New Mexico VA Medical Center
(NMVAMC) and the University of New Mexico. The two laboratories have
been collaborating for a number of years to address the mechanisms
underlying ipsilesional motor deficits in stroke. Both positions will
involve the use of kinematic, kinetic, and EMG analysis of multijoint
arm movements in stroke patients. Laboratory facilities in both the
Penn State and NMVAMC allow the use of both facilities for training.
Ideally, one position will be situated at Penn State and the other at
the NMVAMC. However, both positions will receive the benefit of dual
mentorship by Sainburg (Kinesiology/Neurology) and Haaland
(Neuropsychology). The ideal applicants will have an interest in
rehabilitation and stroke and training in biomechanics, kinesiology,
rehabilitation (PT/OT), or neuropsychology. A breif description of the
collaborative projects is given below. If interested, please contact
Robert Sainburg (rls45@psu.edu) by email, expressing your interest ASAP.
Ipsilesional Motor Deficits in Stroke:
Unilateral sensory-motor stroke can cause significant motor deficits
in the arm and leg on the same side of
the body as the lesion (ipsilesional), in addition to producing more
severe deficits on the opposite side of the
body (contralesional). While ipsilesional deficits have been
recognized in the clinic for decades, therapeutic
attention has understandably focused on the more severe nature of
contralesional deficits. However,
ipsilesional deficits have recently been shown to substantially limit
efficient performance of functional tasks,
including activities of daily living, in chronic stroke patients. Such
limitations are not difficult to understand given
that the ipsilesional arm tends to be used as the primary manipulator
for patients with persistent hemiparesis.
These coordination deficits are thought to result from diminished
contributions from the damaged hemisphere
to control of the arm on the same side of the body, an idea supported
by our preliminary studies. Our findings
suggest that the Dynamic Dominance model of motor lateralization can
predict the differential ipsilesional
deficits that result from either right or left hemisphere damage. The
proposed studies exploit the expertise of
two laboratories that have invested substantial effort in studying
motor lateralization (Sainburg), and
ipsilesional motor performance in stroke patients (Haaland). By
applying our model of motor lateralization to
examine ipsilesional coordination deficits, we hope to develop
principles that allow predictions of the effects of
left and right hemisphere damage on ipsilesional motor coordination
and motor learning in stroke patients.
Such principles should allow the development of more effective
remedial rehabilitation (OT/PT) intervention,
focused on promoting efficient functional performance. Our proposed
experiments examine targeted reaching
movements, using a custom designed virtual-reality system that allows
real-time display and recording of
bilateral arm movements.
Robert L. Sainburg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Neurology
Graduate Programs in Bioengineering and Neuroscience
Co-Director Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Huck Institutes
of Life Sciences
Pennsylvania State University
University Park PA 16802
Tel.: (814)-865-7938//Fax: (814)-8634755
http://www.personal.psu.edu/rls45