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Whitaker International Fellow, 2007-08
Home Institution: Northwestern University
Host Country, Institution: France, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie des Reseaux Sensorimoteurs (LNRS), CNRS UMR
Project Title: Dexterous Hand Control: Movement and the Influence of Gravity
Project Abstract:
The hand is unparalleled among body structures in its integration of detailed sensory information with precise motor control. A critical aspect of hand function is the control of grip force. Understanding how human subjects compensate the torque loads that gravity exerts on a tool can provide exciting insights into how the nervous system plans and executes movements and how the real time sensory feedbacks interact with the brain's internal models. This will ultimately lead to the development of more effective medical treatments.