Thesis Project Form

Acquired brain injuries, particularly strokes affecting the primary motor cortex (M1), are a major cause of disability worldwide. M1 damage disrupts voluntary movement by compromising corticospinal pathways and impairing integration of sensory feedback and motor planning, leading to severe motor deficits.
Recovery depends on compensatory reorganization in spared regions like the premotor cortex and primary somatosensory cortex, which adapt to assume new functional roles. However, the mechanisms underlying these compensatory networks remain poorly understood. Understanding how these networks emerge and evolve is essential for developing more effective therapeutic strategies and rehabilitation protocols for stroke survivors.

The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of intracortical microstimulation approaches (both open-loop and closed-loop paradigms) in facilitating spontaneous recovery following stroke. The secondary objectives focus on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying recovery. First, it will be determined whether disrupted neural population dynamics within the sensorimotor network are restored following M1 infarct and characterize the temporal progression of this recovery process. Second, it will be assessed the restoration of between-area neural activity and network integration across a 4-week recovery period, examining both local and distributed connectivity patterns.

The student will:
- Learn computational neuroscience methods, including dimensionality reduction techniques for neural population dynamics analysis;
- Gain experience in stroke model development and validation;
- Master behavioral assessment protocols for motor function evaluation;
- Integrate multiple data streams, including electrophysiology and behavior;
- Master neurophysiological data acquisition techniques and signal processing algorithms.