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About Us
The Neural Control of Movement Laboratory studies how the central nervous system controls voluntary and involuntary movement. The laboratory uses gold-standard neuroscience techniques to measure motor activity in the brain and spinal cord, where we can determine how each level of the nervous system contributes to muscle activation in both healthy and clinical populations.
Our Highlights
Our laboratory has a long history of uncovering mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue, and we have recently shifted our focus towards a clinical population that is heavily affected by fatigue. Up to 80% of people with Multiple Sclerosis report fatigue as their most disabling symptom, so we have commenced a line of research that addresses the question: What is the ‘fatigue’ in Multiple Sclerosis fatigue? This question is immensely important, because a challenge we face in treating people with Multiple Sclerosis is trying to determine what elements of fatigue are due to the malaise associated with the disease, and what elements of fatigue are due to lesions on nerves that prevent muscles from activating. Thus, we are performing a series of projects that will determine how muscle activation is compromised in people with Multiple Sclerosis who experience fatigue during everyday life.
Our Multiple Sclerosis work is built upon our highly regarded neuromodulation research. Although neural circuits in the brain and spinal cord are responsible for activating muscle, brainstem neuromodulators also play a critical role in generating muscle force. In particular, the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline help to amplify signals in the central nervous system that instruct muscles to activate. Our team has been influential in revealing the role that serotonin plays in regulating muscle activity. Although serotonin may help humans perform muscle contractions when unfatigued, our findings indicate that this same neurotransmitter actually compromises muscle activation during fatiguing tasks. Thus, serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter that underpins fatigue that originates in the central nervous system. Our next phase of projects will determine how noradrenaline contributes to muscle activation and fatigue
About Us
The Neural Control of Movement Laboratory studies how the central nervous system controls voluntary and involuntary movement. The laboratory uses gold-standard neuroscience techniques to measure motor activity in the brain and spinal cord, where we can determine how each level of the nervous system contributes to muscle activation in both healthy and clinical populations.
Our Highlights
Our laboratory has a long history of uncovering mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue, and we have recently shifted our focus towards a clinical population that is heavily affected by fatigue. Up to 80% of people with Multiple Sclerosis report fatigue as their most disabling symptom, so we have commenced a line of research that addresses the question: What is the ‘fatigue’ in Multiple Sclerosis fatigue? This question is immensely important, because a challenge we face in treating people with Multiple Sclerosis is trying to determine what elements of fatigue are due to the malaise associated with the disease, and what elements of fatigue are due to lesions on nerves that prevent muscles from activating. Thus, we are performing a series of projects that will determine how muscle activation is compromised in people with Multiple Sclerosis who experience fatigue during everyday life.
Our Multiple Sclerosis work is built upon our highly regarded neuromodulation research. Although neural circuits in the brain and spinal cord are responsible for activating muscle, brainstem neuromodulators also play a critical role in generating muscle force. In particular, the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline help to amplify signals in the central nervous system that instruct muscles to activate. Our team has been influential in revealing the role that serotonin plays in regulating muscle activity. Although serotonin may help humans perform muscle contractions when unfatigued, our findings indicate that this same neurotransmitter actually compromises muscle activation during fatiguing tasks. Thus, serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter that underpins fatigue that originates in the central nervous system. Our next phase of projects will determine how noradrenaline contributes to muscle activation and fatigue
