Understanding how the brain controls walking on uneven surfaces
Official title: Generation of Motor Cortical Dynamics Controlling Skilled Locomotion
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11091998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the brain helps us move our arms and legs while walking, especially on tricky surfaces, to better understand how to keep older adults safe from falls.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $402,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129576-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who are at risk of falls due to impaired motor control.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable mobility and no history of falls or motor control issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain generates commands for limb movements during walking, particularly over challenging terrains. By studying the motor cortex's activity patterns in animals, the research aims to uncover how these patterns relate to specific movements and how they are influenced by inputs from other brain regions. The goal is to identify the principles that govern the brain's control of walking, which could help in understanding and preventing falls in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing falls in older adults by enhancing our understanding of motor control during walking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding motor control in simpler contexts, but this approach to studying complex locomotion dynamics is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sauerbrei, Britton Alan — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Sauerbrei, Britton Alan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Estrogen signaling and how the intestinal lining protects against injury
A study at Case Western Reserve University looks at how estrogen receptors in the gut lining help protect against intestinal injury and inflammatory bowel disease.
-
Diabetes: Long-term effects of intensive glucose control on complications
A long-term study follows adults with type 1 diabetes to see how keeping blood sugar close to normal affects eye, kidney, nerve, heart, and quality of life outcomes over many years.
-
Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) Study follow-up
This long-term study follows adults with type 1 diabetes to see how early intensive glucose control affects complications and quality of life over many years.
-
Role of THAP1 in brain cell support cells shaping brain development
Aims to understand how the THAP1 protein in oligodendrocyte lineage cells helps shape the brain’s environment and myelination during development, which may relate to a movement disorder called DYT6 dystonia.
-
New human monoclonal antibodies to stop malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax
A researcher team is developing human monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat malaria from Plasmodium vivax, with a plan to test promising antibodies in primates and prepare for human trials.
-
PopCASE: A user-friendly tool to link cancer data for communities and researchers
Aimed at improving population cancer research, PopCASE helps connect patient cancer data with community information to inform better care and outreach.
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.