Understanding Sensorimotor Control with Realistic Neuro-Biomechanical Simulation
Official title: Understanding Sensorimotor Control Through Realistic Neuro-Biomechanical Simulation
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11387584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building a computer-based brain-and-body model to better understand how movement and thinking work together in dynamic environments, which could inform treatments for movement disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,965,688 |
| NIH project number | 5U01NS136507-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with movement disorders or researchers and clinicians seeking insights into sensorimotor control mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without movement-related conditions may not directly benefit from this foundational research.
What this research studies
This project uses a high-fidelity virtual rat with deep neural networks and biomechanically accurate bodies in physics-based simulators to study how the brain coordinates joints, muscles, and goals. It aims to keep the complexity of real movement rather than simplify tasks, allowing exploration of multiple brain regions and noisy sensory input. The work will provide insights into how sensorimotor control shapes broader brain function and cognition. The platform is designed to be easy to use for exploring questions about movement, learning, and control in health and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new approaches to diagnosing and treating movement-related disorders by clarifying how brain networks coordinate action.
How similar studies have gone: Similar virtual-neural-biology approaches have yielded valuable insights in motor control, with growing validation in related animal and human studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olveczky, Bence P — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Olveczky, Bence P
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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.