Learning optimal stiffness during arm reaches
[CLOSED]Learning optimal stiffness during arm reaches
Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB)
When someone steps onto the ice rink for the first time, they stiffen immediately to prevent a fall. In contrast, professional hockey players move with ease and fluidity. This underlies an important, yet underappreciated aspect of learning motor skills: adjusting the stiffness of your body. We are interested in how the brain acquires optimal stiffness patterns, so as to produce expert motor skills.
Both male and female
18 years old to 50 years old
Healthy Volunteers
Who can participate in this study?
Eligible participants are those who are healthy, right-handed adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years, with normal or corrected-to-normal vision (glasses or contacts are fine), no neurological disorders, no vision disorders (e.g., amblyopia, strabismus, nystagmus, etc.), and no musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., breaks, sprains, etc.).
What is involved?
If you agree to participate, you will undergo a single testing session lasting up to 1h. At the beginning of the session, electrodes will be attached to the skin over the shoulder, upper arm and forearm muscles in your right arm. You will then be placed before screen with a cursor that you can control with a robotic handle. You will be asked to perform small reaching movements with your arm using that handle. At random points throughout the task, your arm will be bumped by 8mm with a small painless force during the reach. The entire experiment lasts about 1h, over a single session.
Principal Investigator, Study Identifier, & Posting Dates
Principal Investigator: Paul Gribble
Study posted on: October 22nd, 2020
Recruitment open until: June 30th, 2021
Who can I contact to learn more about this study?
For more information about this study please contact:
Dr. Olivier Codol
ocodol@uwo.ca
Sign Up for Western's Global Cognitive Neuroscience Registry
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