Steve I. Perlmutter

My lab is interested in the neural control of voluntary movement. Primates generate an incredibly varied repertoire of motor behaviors. How does the nervous system accomplish this flexibility? Our focus is on the neural computation performed by the spinal cord and cerebral cortex to generate skillful movements of the arm and hand.

Information about the intended goal of a movement must be transformed into a spatial and temporal pattern of muscle activity, a "motor pattern", to implement an appropriate behavior. Cortical and spinal pathways generate patterns of muscle activity by integrating signals specifying behavioral intent, the state of the musculoskeletal system, and external constraints and loads. This transformation is dynamic and eminently plastic. We are studying how the brain and spinal cord achieve these transformations.

My interest in this field is motivated by its relevance to clinical issues of motor impairment and recovery of function following central nervous system damage. Abnormal patterns of muscle activation following central nervous system injury contribute to weakness and loss of coordination. We would like to understand the capacity of lesioned motor systems for neural plasticity and adaptation, and to develop strategies that exploit this potential to improve function. One approach to these problems is to use brain computer interfaces that employ cortically-driven, targeted stimulation of muscles, spinal cord or brain regions to produce functional movements or promote plasticity in damaged pathways. We believe this type of stimulation will prove effective in facilitating functional recovery following spinal cord injury and stroke.