Whitaker International Fellow, 2007-08

Home Institution: Northwestern University

Host Country, Institution: France, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie des Reseaux Sensorimoteurs (LNRS), CNRS UMR

Project Title: Dexterous Hand Control: Movement and the Influence of Gravity

Project Abstract:

The hand is unparalleled among body structures in its integration of detailed sensory information with precise motor control. A critical aspect of hand function is the control of grip force. Understanding how human subjects compensate the torque loads that gravity exerts on a tool can provide exciting insights into how the nervous system plans and executes movements and how the real time sensory feedbacks interact with the brain`s internal models. This will ultimately lead to the development of more effective medical treatments.