Using social motivation to enhance motor learning in rehabilitation after stroke
Official title: Harnessing the Kohler Effect to Promote Motor Learning During Physically Assisted Rehabilitation
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11070300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how working together in groups can help stroke survivors learn to move better during their rehab, making physical therapy more engaging and effective.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $49,538 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HD110254-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals recovering from a stroke who experience difficulties with gait and motor function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not recovering from a stroke or do not have significant motor impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social motivation can improve motor learning during rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke. It combines insights from social psychology and neuroscience to explore how working in teams can enhance motivation and engagement in physical therapy. By leveraging the Köhler effect, which suggests that individuals perform better when they are part of a group, the study aims to increase active error correction during gait training. This approach could lead to more effective rehabilitation strategies for patients with neuromuscular or cognitive impairments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes for stroke patients, enhancing their ability to regain mobility and independence.
How similar studies have gone: While the Köhler effect has shown success in other domains like exercise and cognitive tasks, its application in motor learning during rehabilitation is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manczurowsky, Julia Rose — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Manczurowsky, Julia Rose
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.