|
|
|
|
The
central interest of research in the Action Lab is the control and coordination
of goal-directed human behavior. What organizational principles are at work in
movement coordination? What perceptual information is used to coordinate the
complex neuromuscular structure? The theoretical framework that pervades our
studies interprets the actor in the environment as a dynamical system, which is
high-dimensional, nonlinear, and capable of producing coordinated and adaptive
behavior. More specifically, our research agenda focuses on single- and multi-
joint human movements in perceptually specified tasks. We pursue a three-pronged
research strategy consisting of: (1) an empirical component with behavioral
experiments on human subjects, (2) theoretical work which develops mathematical
models for movement generation on the basis of coupled dynamical systems, and
(3) brain imaging studies that investigate the cerebral activity accompanying
movement. More recently, we have extended these experimental paradigms to
neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and split-brain patients, and
the elderly.
|
|
|
|
|
Selected Recent Publications:
-
Raftery, A. Cusumano,
J., & Sternad, D. (2008). Chaotic frequency scaling in a coupled
oscillator model for free rhythmic actions. Neural Computation, 20, 205-226.
-
Wei,
K., Dijkstra, T. M. H., & Sternad, D. (2007). Passive stability and
active control in a rhythmic task. Journal of Neurophysiology, 98, 5,
2633-2646.
-
Hogan, N., &
Sternad, D. (2007). On rhythmic and discrete movement: Reflections,
definitions and implications for motor control. Experimental Brain Research, 181, 13-30.
-
Schaal
S., Sternad D., Osu R. & Kawato M. (2004). Rhythmic arm movements
are not discrete.
Nature Neuroscience 7,10, 1136-1143.
-
Sternad D. & Dijkstra T. M. H. (2004). Dynamical stability in the
acquisition and performance
of rhythmic ball manipulation: Theoretical insights with a clinical
slant. Journal
of Clinical Neurophysiology, 21, 3, 215-227.
-
Dijkstra T. M. H., Katsumata H., de Rugy A. & Sternad D. (2004). The
dialogue between data and model: Passive stability and relaxation behavior in a
ball bouncing task.
Nonlinear Studies, 11, 3, 319-345.
-
Müller
H. & Sternad D. (2004). Decomposition of variability in the
execution of goal-oriented tasks
- Three
components of skill improvement.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and
Performance, 30, 1, 212-233.
|
|
|
