Postdoc Candidate Seminar
Russell Hardesty, PhD
Title: Restoring and Enhancing Motor Function After Limb Loss: Computational and Neurophysiological Approaches
Abstract: The ability to move is a fundamental behavior that enables us to interact with the external world and is integral to our quality-of-life. Effective motor control requires the nervous system to generate movements that are both robust and adaptable across a wide range of contexts. The importance and complexity of this control become most apparent in conditions that impair movement, such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and limb amputation. My research focuses on developing assistive and rehabilitative technologies to enhance motor recovery and functional outcomes following neuromuscular disease or injury. In this seminar, I will present two projects aimed at improving recovery and function in individuals with limb loss. The first project employs computational modeling of upper-limb musculature to quantify mechanical interactions and inform the design of more biomimetic myoelectric control strategies. The second project will describe the development of a novel, non-pharmacological intervention using operant conditioning of cutaneous reflexes to alleviate phantom limb pain. Together, these studies demonstrate how combining computational and experimental approaches can advance our understanding of sensorimotor control and inform the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Bio: Russell Hardesty is a postdoctoral researcher at the National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies at the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY. He is a biomedical engineer and neuroscientist whose research focuses on human motor control, motor learning, and neurorehabilitation.