The Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation (MLN) Laboratory
The Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation laboratory is an interdisciplinary group that gathers the knowledge and expertise of mechanical and biomedical engineers, computer scientists, neuroscientists and psychologists. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms associated with the acquisition of novel motor skills in order to develop innovative technology to improve the rehabilitation of neurological patients.
Our research focuses on human-machine interfaces and biological learning, and, specifically, on the use of robotic assistance to aid people in learning motor tasks and rehabilitate after neurologic injuries. Within our group, we develop innovative intelligent controllers that modulate movement errors based on patients’ special needs, age and training task’s characteristics using a wide selection of robotic devices. We complement the research on robotics with the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance patients’ motivation and reduce their cognitive load during training. In order to get a better insight into brain-related intrinsic factors during therapy, electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are used to identify neurocognitive markers underlying motor learning.
