How touch helps the brain guide precise hand movements after stroke
Neural dynamics of somatosensory guidance of dexterous movement in intact and stroke-injured networks
This project looks at how touch-related brain signals support fine hand movements with the hope of informing better recovery methods for people after stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11393633 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are recording brain activity in areas that process touch and control movement to learn how touch guides skilled hand actions. The work uses high-density electrical recordings from the somatosensory thalamus, primary somatosensory cortex, and primary motor cortex while non-human primates perform complex manipulation tasks. Researchers compare intact brains to brains after experimentally induced stroke to see how somatosensory inputs change motor control. They also build models that separate intrinsic motor-cortex activity from incoming touch signals to understand how sensory feedback shapes movement.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have had a stroke and continue to have trouble with hand dexterity and daily tasks are the population most likely to benefit from findings of this work.
Not a fit: People with hand problems caused by non-stroke conditions or those with very advanced widespread brain damage or severe cognitive impairment may not benefit directly from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new rehabilitation strategies or stimulation approaches that improve hand dexterity and independence after stroke.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human studies link somatosensory cortex function to hand-recovery after stroke, but using high-channel recordings and primate models to map detailed sensory-to-motor dynamics is a relatively new and more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khanna, Preeya — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Khanna, Preeya
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.