Research in motor systems focuses on understanding how the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system work together to execute voluntary and reflexive action.
Faculty study how motor networks plan, initiate and refine voluntary and reflexive actions, and how these systems are disrupted by injury, disease and aging. This work seeks to develop new therapeutic approaches for conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and other movement disorders. Insights from this research support advances in rehabilitation strategies and the restoration of motor function.
Faculty Mentors
| Name | Department | Research Area | Disease Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vijayendran Chandran | Pediatrics | Development; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration | Spinal Cord Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders |
| Erica A. Dale | Neuroscience | Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Neuromuscular Disorders |
| Matthew Farrer | Neurology | Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neuroimmunity | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Epilepsy; Parkinson’s Disease |
| Christopher Hess | Neurology | Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration | Parkinson’s Disease |
| Yuqing Li | Neurology | Cognition; Development; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Psychiatric Disorders |
| Carol Mathews | Psychiatry | Cognition; Development; Motivation and Emotion; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Sensory Systems | Psychiatric Disorders |
| Nikolaus McFarland | Neurology | Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration | Parkinson’s Disease |
| Gordon S. Mitchell | Physical Therapy | Development; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Neuroimmunity | Spinal Cord Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders |
| Michael S. Okun | Neurology | Cognition; Integrative Physiology and Behavior; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia | Parkinson’s Disease |
| Karim Oweiss | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Cognition; Motor Systems; Neural Aging and Degeneration; Neural Excitability, Synapses and Glia; Sensory Systems | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia; Spinal Cord Injury; Neuromuscular Disorders; Parkinson’s Disease |
| Laura P. Ranum | Molecular Genetics & Microbiology | Development; Motor Systems | Neuromuscular Disorders; Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia |
Key Affiliations
Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, and Neuroresilience Center
Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center
Center for NeuroGenetics
Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease
