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Abstract: Dexterous movement is a hallmark of human motor ability, enabling us to interact skillfully with our environment. The loss of this capability due to movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke, strips individuals of independence and quality of life. This talk explores the neural underpinnings of dexterity, focusing on how the nervous system integrates sensory and motor signals to achieve precise control. We then examine how these mechanisms break down in movement disorders, leading to impaired motor function. Finally, we turn to neuroengineering technologies which aim to restore movement in affected individuals. By leveraging advances in neural interfaces and wearable systems, we are seeking to design systems to repair motor function. Overall, we highlight our highly interdependent scientific and translational goals to understand and restore complex movement.
Studying the neural basis of prey catching behavior across species for over 60 years has significantly advanced our understanding of the most conserved aspects of visual system function. Our team builds upon this important foundation to understand how fundamental visual processes, such as motion-triggered visual orienting, evolve across species and are modulated within species by life-stage and/or reproductive status. Towards this goal, we primarily study the neural basis of motion- and prey-triggered natural visual orienting behavior in the mouse model. Our specific aims are to understand the neural circuit subcortical mechanisms that critically regulate adaptive variations in these behaviors that depend on developmental stage, sex and hunger drive. Predatory behaviors and related visual orienting, are strategically regulated across species by these internal “states” in particular across a broad range of species from birds and bats to primates.
