UM SOM: Department of Physical Therapy

Back to Research.

Mechanisms of Neural Control Laboratory

Lab Director

Susanne M. Morton, PT, PhD
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Neurobiology

Location

Room 102, Allied Health Building
University of Maryland
Medical School Campus

Primary Focus

This laboratory focuses on mechanisms of central nervous system control and adaptation of human movement. We study movements by recording kinematics (trajectories, angles, etc.), kinetics (forces, torques, etc.), and electromyography (muscle activity) from behaving human subjects. We study the healthy population as well as individuals with various central nervous system dysfunctions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and cerebellar disorders. Particular areas of emphasis are (1) spinal versus supraspinal control of locomotion and (2) motor adaptation and motor learning. Current projects are aimed at identifying the role of the motor cortex in modifying intra- and interlimb coordination during locomotion.

Key Personnel

Graduate Students

• Shih-Chiao Tseng, MS, PT
• Douglas N. Savin, MS, PT

Research Assistant

• Sara J. Hartman, BA

Laboratory Resources

Primary laboratory tools

1. OPTOTRAK System (Northern Digital Inc.) to record 3D movement kinematics

2. Surface EMG (electromyography) to record muscle activity

3. Treadmills and partial body-weight support system

4. Several PCs to interface with equipment and for data analysis using various packaged and custom-made software programs

5. Transcranial magnetic stimulation

6. AMTI forceplate

7. KinCom isometric dynamometry

Current Projects

1. Mechanisms of bilateral leg control and disturbed interlimb coordination in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis

2. Role of transcortical connections and ipsilateral motor cortical structures in bilateral leg movements in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis

3. Cerebellar locomotor adaptations

Grants

Current Support

1. NIH K01 HD050369 ($506,832 direct costs) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award "Effect of Contralateral Leg on Motor Output Post Stroke" Principle Investigator, 2006-2011

2. Veterans Affairs (PI: Richard F. Macko, MD; $4,153,100 direct costs) Center of Excellence Grant "Task-Oriented Exercise and Robotics in Neurological Disease" Co-investigator, 2005-2010

Past Support

1. Office for Research & Graduate Studies ($15,000 direct costs)
   School of Medicine Intramural New Investigator Award
   "Mechanisms of Impaired Interlimb Coupling Post-stroke"
   Principle Investigator, 2005-2006

2. General Clinical Research Center ($15,000 direct costs)
   School of Medicine Clinical Research Feasibility Funds
   "Interlimb Coupling of Kinematic & Muscle Activation Patterns Poststroke"
   Principle Investigator, 2005-2006

3. Foundation for Physical Therapy ($15,000 direct costs)
   PODS-II Award (predoctoral research grant)
   "Cerebellar control and adaptation of human locomotion"
   Principal Investigator, 2002-2003

4. Foundation for Physical Therapy ($7,500 direct costs)
   PODS-I Award (predoctoral research grant)
   "Cerebellar control and adaptation of human locomotion"
   Principal Investigator, 2001-2002

Collaborators

1. Leonardo G. Cohen, MD
   Human Cortical Physiology Section, NINDS, NIH
   Relative roles of cortical and cerebellar brain regions in motor learning

2. Amy J. Bastian, PT, PhD
   Kennedy Krieger Institute; Johns Hopkins University Neurology Department
   Longitudinal examination of balance and gait impairment in individuals with cerebellar damage

3. Richard F. Macko, MD
   VA Medical Center and University of Maryland Neurology Department
   Task-oriented exercise and robotics in neurological disease

Recent Representative Publications

1. Savin DN and Morton SM. Asymmetric generalization between the arm and leg following prism-induced visuomotor adaptation. Exp Brain Res, 2007 (In press).

2. Morton SM and Bastian AJ. Mechanisms of cerebellar gait ataxia. Cerebellum 6(1): 79-86, 2007.

3. Morton SM and Bastian AJ. Cerebellar contributions to locomotor adaptations during splitbelt treadmill walking. J Neurosci 26: 9107-9116, 2006.

4. Morton SM and Bastian AJ. Cerebellar control of balance and locomotion. Neuroscientist 10(3): 247-259, 2004.

5. Morton SM and Bastian AJ. Prism adaptation during walking generalizes to reaching and requires the cerebellum. J Neurophysiol 92(4): 2497-2509, 2004.

6. Morton SM, Dordevic GS, and Bastian AJ. Cerebellar damage produces context-dependent deficits in control of leg dynamics during obstacle avoidance. Exp Brain Res 156(2): 149-163, 2004.

7. Mostofsky SH, Bunoski R, Morton SM, Goldberg M, and Bastian AJ. Children with autism adapt normally during a catching task implicating the cerebellum. Neurocase 10(1): 60-64, 2004.

8. Morton SM and Bastian AJ. Relative contributions of balance and voluntary leg coordination deficits to cerebellar gait ataxia. J Neurophysiol 89(4): 1844-1856, 2003.