Motor Cognition & Apraxia
Studies of motor cognition such as movement prediction, movement observation, embodiment, decision making as well as tool use and apraxia. Employed methods encompass assessment of motor behaviour (motion capture, reaction time measurements) as well as neuroimaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation) and lesion analysis.
Tool use and activities of daily living
Thabea Kampe, Joachim Hermsdörfer
By investigating the neural organization of tool use, interventions may be developed that reduce the consequences of neurological impairments of tool use. In order to decode the cortical representation (on most naturalistic conditions by e.g. using the ‘tool carousel’, see figure), several methods are being used (TMS, fMRT, Motion Capture Systems, lesion analysis) to test both healthy and brain damaged participants.
Motor action planning and control and underlying brain mechanisms
Melanie Krüger & Waltraud Stadler
The human motor system has the incredible capability to perform complex movements seemingly effortless in the presence of uncertain and dynamic environmental conditions during movement planning and control. From a human movement science perspective, this phenomenon can be quantified as the trade-off between flexibility in movement execution and stability in movement outcome. Within the context of these projects, empirical studies are conducted in which the availability and reliability of sensory information for motor decision making are systematically manipulated and its effect on movement variability is quantified through kinematic movement analysis. In some of these projects, we use non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to identify brain mechanisms underlying the integration of sensory information and action selection / motor decision-making.
Literature: Krüger, M., & Hermsdörfer, J. (2019) Gutierrez-Herrera, M., Saevarsson, S., Huber, T., Hermsdörfer, J., & Stadler, W. (2017)
Neural Correlates of Action Prediction
Waltraud Stadler
Human action is a highly relevant stimulus for human observers. Moreover, it is a special perceptual event – one that observers can also produce themselves. This fact is reflected in common neural mechanisms involved in action production and -perception. We are interested neural correlates of action prediction, -imagery and -observation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS). Our neuroimaging studies highlighted a sensorimotor brain network which responded selectively to dynamic action prediction. Transient interference in this network by means of rTMS impaired action prediction in a way that it became less time-precise. For brain imaging studies, we cooperate with Dr. Afra Wohlschläger and Dr. Kathrin Koch at Neurokopfzentrum and Neuroimaging Center at Klinikum rechts der Isar.
The accuracy of action prediction is also addressed in behavioral studies under varying conditions, such as movement expertise (in athletes) and in autism spectrum disorder (with Dr. Emma Gowen, University of Manchester).
Brich, L.F.M., Bächle, C., Hermsdörfer, J., Stadler, W. (2018).
Stadler, W., Schubotz, R., von Cramon, D., Springer, A., Graf, M., & Prinz, W. (2011).
