March 25, 2009
Neuroscientist will share research on brain hemispheres, stroke, movement, handedness, Mar. 27
AMES, Iowa — A visiting scientist whose research has implications for understanding impaired mobility after a stroke will discuss his research on Friday, March 27, from 2:10 p.m. until 3 p.m., in room 289 of the Forker Building, on the Iowa State University campus. The talk is open to the public.
The brain’s hemispheres serve different, but complementary roles in controlling movements of the body’s extremities, according to Robert Sainburg, an associate professor of kinesiology and neurology and co-director of the graduate program in neuroscience at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
The neuroscientist’s research suggests that when controlling movement of the body’s extremities, the dominant and nondominant hemispheres of the brain divide up tasks. Sainburg says the brain’s division of labor for orchestrating movements of the arms and legs is consistent with the hemispheric separation it employs when performing perceptual, cognitive, and language activities.
His findings have implications for understanding motor deficits that result from strokes that impair sensory activities and motion-control on only one side of the body.
Sainburg will deliver the talk at a research seminar hosted by the Iowa State University Department of Kinesiology.
"Dr. Sainburg is an outstanding scientist whose research has implications for our understanding not only of fundamental principles underlying voluntary control of movement, but also of motor deficits that result from unilateral strokes and effective rehabilitation strategies that will assist individuals who have suffered a stroke," said Phil Martin, professor and chair of kinesiology at Iowa State.
Contacts:
Philip Martin, Professor and Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, pemartin@iastate.edu, 515 294-8009.
Robert Sainburg, Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Neurology, Pennsylvania State University, rls45@psu.edu, 814 863-7938.
Cathy Curtis, Communications and Web Editor, College of Human Sciences, Iowa State University, ccurtis@iastate.edu, 515 294-8175.
