How the brain chooses which hand to use for reaching
Neural basis of limb selection in unimanual reaching
This work looks at how parts of the brain decide whether to use the left or right hand when reaching, with relevance for people who have trouble moving an arm after stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299465 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, researchers are studying brain regions in the parietal cortex that plan arm movements to see how the brain picks one hand over the other. They will record and analyze neural activity while subjects or model animals make simple reaching choices, and change factors like hand position and ongoing tasks to see what drives the choice. The team will map circuits that link movement planning and hand selection and test how those circuits fail after brain injury. Findings aim to inform how to restore better arm use after stroke or brain trauma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People recovering from a stroke or with difficulty using or choosing one arm during everyday tasks would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose problems are unrelated to arm movement or brain decision-making (for example, purely sensory issues or non-neurological conditions) are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new rehabilitation approaches or brain-based therapies to improve hand use after stroke or other brain injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has shown that parietal brain areas help plan arm movements, but applying this knowledge specifically to explain and fix hand choice is a more recent focus.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mooshagian, Eric F — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Mooshagian, Eric F
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.