Computer models of mouse arm and reach movements
Computational Modeling of Mouse Forelimb Movements
Using detailed computer and physics simulations of mouse forelimb movement to help researchers understand how the brain and muscles control reaching for people affected by stroke or cerebellar disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324188 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build and share open-source musculoskeletal computer models that simulate the mouse forelimb and its 25+ muscles. They will use optimal-control methods and artificial neural networks together with a physics engine to estimate muscle activity from movement data and optional electromyography. The models will be checked against experiments where mice reach for pellets and carry different weights on their limbs. The team will also link biomechanical features from the model to neural recordings in motor cortex and cerebellum to explore how these brain areas represent movement forces.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with movement problems after stroke or with cerebellar disorders would be the most relevant patient group for potential future studies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients without motor impairments or with conditions unrelated to movement control are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify how brain and muscle interactions produce reaching movements and point to better rehabilitation strategies or targets for people with stroke or cerebellar disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and computational studies have helped reveal motor control principles, and this project extends those approaches with more detailed musculoskeletal models and physics-based validation.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Al Borno, Mazen — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Al Borno, Mazen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.