Examples of NSAP project descriptions within the theme “Neuro Skill Advancement for Post-baccalaureate” are given below along with any specific project qualification necessary for success (e.g. specific courses or recommended background).
Project 1: Brain-Computer Interfaces to Help the Body Move Again (Contreras-Vidal, BMI Lab)
Figure 1. Pediatric exoskeleton.
Background: Devices that interface with the nervous system for diagnostic, therapeutic, or restorative purposes are a major locus of innovation in the US. Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI), which translate brain activity into motor commands to external devices such as prosthetic limbs, are designed to help people with motor disabilities move again.14–19 Our Lab at the IUCRC BRAIN has pioneered EEG-based BMI systems for patients with limb amputation, stroke and spinal cord injury. However, these technologies are yet to be fully developed and validated for children or be fully integrated into clinical rehabilitation.
Research Plan: In our proposed project, we will embed NSAP trainees with a team of graduate student mentors, engineers and clinical collaborators in ongoing EEG-based BMIs to exoskeletons for children (Fig. 1) or adults with gait disabilities. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research, including informed consent, data collection, neural decoding, and preparation of technical reports.
Prerequisites: An introductory course in signals and systems and knowledge of Matlab are desirable.
Project 2: Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Brain and Balance in the Elderly (Parikh Lab, CNBR Lab)
Background: Falls and fall-related injuries are a growing public health concern in the elderly. When older adults are affected by neurological conditions, the risk of falling increases substantially. Falls and the resulting fear of falls can mark the beginning of a decline in function, participation in social activities, and independence, thus negatively affecting the quality of life. Loss of balance is one of the common precipitants of falls. Older adults often have alterations in the brain balance circuit that cause ineffective responses to prevent a fall when the balance is challenged. In this project, we will examine the effects of an MRI-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocol on the brain balance circuit assessed using electroencephalography and balance behavior in elderly individuals.
Research Plan: We will pair NSAP trainees with graduate student mentors to investigate how the magnetic stimulation of the brain influences the network for balance control within affected and non-affected hemispheres in stroke patients. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research including informed consent, data collection & analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: An introductory programming course, preferably using C/C++ and/or Python is desirable.
Project 3: Effects of Aging on Bottom-Up and Top-Down Influences During Sentence Comprehension: Evidence From Event-Related Potentials (Dial)
Background: Both younger and older adults use semantic prediction during auditory comprehension. However, age-related declines in hearing and cognitive control make older adults a) more reliant on semantic prediction and b) less able to inhibit predictions when faced with conflicting information. One method used to study this is the false hearing paradigm, in which participants listen to sentences biased toward one word of a phonologically similar word pair (e.g., BEACH/PEACH) and report what they heard. For example, when hearing “The man ate a ripe BEACH,” older adults are more likely to report hearing “The man ate a ripe PEACH,” the word that semantically fits the sentence. The proposed study aims to uncover the neural mechanisms behind this effect using event-related potentials (ERPs). Specifically, we will examine the N400 component across three conditions: (1) congruent sentences, (2) incongruent sentences correctly identified as nonsensical (accurate perception), and (3) incongruent sentences mistakenly judged as meaningful (false hearing). Understanding the factors that influence auditory comprehension in aging can inform strategies to support comprehension, particularly in the context of hearing loss and impaired language processing.
Research Plan: An NSAP trainee will work with the PI and a graduate student mentor to investigate the mechanisms underlying false hearing. The NSAP trainee will be involved in informed consent, data collection & analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: Some experience with EEG data collection or analysis is desirable but not required.
Project 4: Neuromuscular Pain Manifestation In Women (Gorniak)
Background: The goal of the proposed project is to identify the origins of neuromuscular arm, shoulder, and back pain in women. While multiple mechanistic pathways likely contribute to the manifestation of pain, we have limited insight into the interaction of these complex causes, particularly in women. In this project, complementary data from a variety of sources are collected to improve understanding in how neuromuscular pain develops and manifests across the lifespan in women.
Research Plan: We will pair NSAP trainees with graduate student mentors to investigate the multifactorial roots of neuromuscular pain manifestation in women. Data collection types will include behavioral assessment, neuromuscular stimulation, biomechanical assessment, and functional neuroimaging. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research including data collection, data analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: Introductory course work in: Anatomy & Physiology and Computer Programming. Coursework in foundations of functional neuroimaging, biomechanics, and proficiency in signal processing would be ideal, but not required.
Project 5: Microanalysis of Center of Pressure (Bickley at Texas Woman’s University)
Background: A system of microanalysis of Center of Pressure (CoP) on a pressure mat has been developed and shown to be a reliable and valid measure of standing balance in the pediatric population. Normative standing CoP data has been collected in the 7-year-old to 18-year-old age group has shown to have high reliability and validity as compared to simultaneous collection on force places. In addition, standing CoP data has also been collected using a pressure mat system on a cohort of ambulatory children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Of the 21 CoP variables included in this microanalysis of CoP, five specific variables were found to be particularly sensitive and discriminative in distinguishing between differing types of CP within this cohort. This new standing balance assessment using microanalysis of CoP is proving to be a promising new outcome measure. This microanalysis of CoP has promising implications for the adult population as well. Research is needed to collect additional normative data using a plantar pressure mat as well as analyze what the differing CoP variables mean clinically.
Research Plan: A summer research project working with Dr. Bickley would involve advancing this research agenda.
Prerequisites: An interest in analysis of movement and upright stability.
Project 6: Neuromusclar Coordination-guided Rehabilitation after Neurological Disorders (Roh at University of Houston)
KAIST Upper Limb Synergy Identification System.
Background: Stroke induces alterations in neuromuscular coordination. As the level of motor impairment increases, the prevalence of abnormal motor coordination increases. Is there any way to improve impaired motor coordination through human-robot interaction? If so, how? Students will be involved in scientific investigation and engineering application development in relation to the topic.
Research Plan: We will pair NSAP trainees with graduate student mentors to investigate whether a novel rehabilitation exercise by using human-machine interface induces newly emerging intermuscular coordination patterns in the upper extremity of stroke survivors with severe impairment. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research including informed consent, supporting research participants’ training, data collection & analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: An introductory programming course, preferably using MATLAB is desirable.
Project 7: Robotic exoskeletons for gait assistance and locomotor training. (Chang and Francisco at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Neurorecovery Research Center at TIRR Memorial Hermann)
Figure. Lower limb wearable robotic exoskeletons.
Background: The ability to recover walking remains a crucial predictor of quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries, strokes, brain injuries, and multiple sclerosis. Gait is not only a vital activity in daily life but also helps reduce secondary complications that often arise from a sedentary lifestyle due to neurological injuries, such as cardiovascular deconditioning and bone mass loss. The advent of advanced robotic technology has led to increased interest in the use of wearable robotic exoskeletons for mobility and locomotor training in neurological rehabilitation. One significant advantage of robotic exoskeleton-assisted gait training is that these devices are powered by motors and actuators, which facilitate repetitive movements, such as walking. This sustained activity promotes maximal practice effects during retraining, and the task-specific training can induce neuroplasticity by modulating neuronal excitability and connectivity at both the spinal and supraspinal levels, ultimately improving walking ability and the overall quality of life for individuals with mobility impairments.
Research Plan: We will pair NSAP trainees with graduate student mentors to explore how robotic exoskeletons can be used for mobility assistance and locomotor training in individuals with neurological conditions, incorporating neuromuscular modeling. NSAP trainees will participate in data processing, analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: An introductory motion analysis course using MATLAB is required.
Project 8: User-centric approach in research and design for a pediatric exoskeleton (UH Health Design Lab, Morshedzadeh)
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Only in the U.S., 1 in 345 children has been identified with CP[2]. Over half of the CP children fall under the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I - II, who can walk independently with some irregularities[1], [2] and 7% - 11% of children with CP fall under GMFCS Level III and can walk with assistive devices[1]. Any new technology that can assist with gait diagnostics, as well as rehabilitation need to aim to address the unique needs of children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers through the lens user-centered design approach with focus on adaptability to a child's growing body, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal to encourage long-term acceptance (Fig.1 and 2). This innovative approach seeks not only to improve physical functionality but also to positively impact the overall well-being and social integration of children with cerebral palsy and their quality of life.
Research Plan: In this proposed interdisciplinary project, NSAP trainees will be collaborating with a team of graduate student in engineering in ongoing exoskeletons for children. NSAP trainees will be involved in all stages of design process, such as research, user research and user journey analysis, observation and data collection, design, prototyping with soft goods and early prototype testing.
Prerequisites: An introductory course in user research and design process as well as basic knowledge in prototyping and 3D modeling. Experience with softgoods design is desirable but no required.
Project 9: The Neural Basis of the Creative Process in Dance and Music (Contreras-Vidal)
Background: Music and dance are powerful neuromodulators that affect multiple brain systems, and thereby our mood, movement, creativity, emotions, social interaction health and wellbeing. However, most studies investigating the neural basis of music and dance have been constrained to lab settings and methodologies that prevent the study of the brain “in action and in context” in ecological settings.
Research Plan: In this project, we will embed NSAP trainees with a team of neuroscientists, engineers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, graduate and undergraduate researchers, and clinical collaborators. NSAP trainees will work closely with Dr. Contreras-Vidal and his team to examine how the brain of dancers and/or musicians are engaged and communicate with each other during performance. NSAP trainees will have opportunities to be involved in designing brain-computer interfaces based on inter-brain synchrony measurements, functional mapping and other neuroscience and neuroengineering tools. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research informed consent, data collection and analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: Knowledge of MATLAB programming, signal processing, biomechanics, music, dance or art therapy is desirable.
Project 10: Quantifying Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy (Parikh, CNBR Lab)
Background: In the United States, cerebral palsy (CP) affects 3-4 per 1000 live births (CDC) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy comprising 30% of cases. CP impairs the spontaneous use of the hand for daily manual activities, thus affecting functional independence and diminishing their quality of life. Current clinical tests only provide a qualitative assessment of performance via observation (i.e., a rating scale) or through perceptual judgment and/or they focus on the speed/time to complete the task. We have developed an objective activity-based measure of hand function in children, the Bead Maze hand function (BMHF) test (see the figure). The test has been implemented in typically developing children (Rose et al, 2024; American Journal of Occupational Therapy). Here, children are required to perform a multi-joint movement to complete an unimanual functional task of positioning and/or orienting the bead in relation to the wire. The forces imparted on the wire while maneuvering the bead and the test completion time are quantified. The test is designed to capture sensorimotor behavior for manual activities.
Research Plan: We will pair NSAP trainees with graduate student mentors to study whether the BMHF test can be used to capture hand function in children with CP. Another aspect of the project will focus on identifying suitable biomarkers or predictors of impairment using advanced statistical methods. NSAP trainees will be involved in all aspects of the research including informed consent, data collection & analysis, and dissemination of research findings.
Prerequisites: An introductory programming course, preferably using MATLAB.