Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation

The Motor Learning and Neurorehabilitation laboratory was an interdisciplinary group that gathered the knowledge and expertise of mechanical and biomedical engineers, computer scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists. The goal was 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.

The research focused on human-machine interfaces and biological learning, and, specifically, on the use of robotic assistance to aid people in learning motor tasks and rehabilitating after neurologic injuries. Within the group, innovative intelligent controllers were developed that modulated movement errors based on patients’ special needs, age, and training task characteristics using a wide selection of robotic devices. The research on robotics was complemented by 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 gain better insight into brain-related intrinsic factors during therapy, electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were used to identify neurocognitive markers underlying motor learning.