Nadia Dominici | Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (original) (raw)

Papers by Nadia Dominici

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: Development of pendulum mechanism and kinematic coordination from the first unsupported steps in toddlers (Journal of Experimental Biology (2004) 207 (3797-3810))

The Journal of Experimental Biology, Oct 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Control of Foot Trajectory in Walking Toddlers: Adaptation to Load Changes

Journal of Neurophysiology, Apr 1, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Stepping Over Different Support Surfaces Kinematic Strategies in Newly Walking Toddlers

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in the Limb Kinematics and Walking-Distance Estimation After Shank Elongation: Evidence for a Locomotor Body Schema?

Journal of Neurophysiology, Mar 1, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of 12.4 Interaction of locomotor patterns with voluntarymovement

Gait & Posture, Jun 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Age-Related Differences in Muscle Synergy Organization during Step Ascent at Different Heights and Directions

Applied sciences, Mar 14, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Muscle synergy structure and gait patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, Oct 6, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Kinematics in Newly Walking Toddlers Does Not Depend Upon Postural Stability

Journal of Neurophysiology, Jul 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The neural origin of switches in coordination of arm and leg movement during walking

Research paper thumbnail of Modular Control of Limb Movements during Human Locomotion

The Journal of Neuroscience, Oct 10, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of 1.3 Gait kinematics in newly walking toddlers

Gait & Posture, Jun 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The development of mature gait patterns in children during walking and running

European Journal of Applied Physiology, Jan 13, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Decoding bipedal locomotion from the rat sensorimotor cortex

Journal of Neural Engineering, Sep 2, 2015

OBJECTIVE Decoding forelimb movements from the firing activity of cortical neurons has been inter... more OBJECTIVE Decoding forelimb movements from the firing activity of cortical neurons has been interfaced with robotic and prosthetic systems to replace lost upper limb functions in humans. Despite the potential of this approach to improve locomotion and facilitate gait rehabilitation, decoding lower limb movement from the motor cortex has received comparatively little attention. Here, we performed experiments to identify the type and amount of information that can be decoded from neuronal ensemble activity in the hindlimb area of the rat motor cortex during bipedal locomotor tasks. APPROACH Rats were trained to stand, step on a treadmill, walk overground and climb staircases in a bipedal posture. To impose this gait, the rats were secured in a robotic interface that provided support against the direction of gravity and in the mediolateral direction, but behaved transparently in the forward direction. After completion of training, rats were chronically implanted with a micro-wire array spanning the left hindlimb motor cortex to record single and multi-unit activity, and bipolar electrodes into 10 muscles of the right hindlimb to monitor electromyographic signals. Whole-body kinematics, muscle activity, and neural signals were simultaneously recorded during execution of the trained tasks over multiple days of testing. Hindlimb kinematics, muscle activity, gait phases, and locomotor tasks were decoded using offline classification algorithms. MAIN RESULTS We found that the stance and swing phases of gait and the locomotor tasks were detected with accuracies as robust as 90% in all rats. Decoded hindlimb kinematics and muscle activity exhibited a larger variability across rats and tasks. SIGNIFICANCE Our study shows that the rodent motor cortex contains useful information for lower limb neuroprosthetic development. However, brain-machine interfaces estimating gait phases or locomotor behaviors, instead of continuous variables such as limb joint positions or speeds, are likely to provide more robust control strategies for the design of such neuroprostheses.

Research paper thumbnail of Migration of Motor Pool Activity in the Spinal Cord Reflects Body Mechanics in Human Locomotion

Journal of Neurophysiology, Dec 1, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Motor Patterns During Walking on a Slippery Walkway

Journal of Neurophysiology, Feb 1, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Body Weight Control Is a Key Element of Motor Control for Toddlers’ Walking

Frontiers in Network Physiology, Mar 24, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Differential sets of cortical muscle synergy signatures during adult locomotion

Muscle synergy assessments are often employed to evaluate the modular organization of the spinal ... more Muscle synergy assessments are often employed to evaluate the modular organization of the spinal cord during a locomotion task. While they provide valuable insights into the pattern formation of the a-motoneurons at the spinal cord, by construction they cannot capture control from supra-spinal layers. We examined how locomotor muscle synergies are represented in the sensorimotor cortex, with particular focus on the cortico-synergy coherence as a measure of coupling along the cortico-spinal tract. Non-negative matrix factorization served to decompose multivariate electromyographic signals into muscle synergies. Their representations were localized in the cortex using coherence-based beamforming. Overall, the cortico-synergy coherence was maximal in sensorimotor areas especially in the beta-frequency band. However, only for the synergies timed to heel strike, that are related to the double support phases, the coherence was significant. These coherences were closely related to the timing of the activation patterns of the synergies, suggesting sensorimotor cortex to be strongly involved in emergence and control of these synergies.

Research paper thumbnail of Motion tracking in developmental research: Methods, considerations, and applications

Progress in Brain Research, 2020

In this chapter, we explore the use of motion tracking methodology in developmental research. Wit... more In this chapter, we explore the use of motion tracking methodology in developmental research. With motion tracking, also called motion capture, human movements can be precisely recorded and analyzed. Motion tracking provides developmental researchers with objective measurements of motor and (socio-)cognitive development. It can further be used to create carefully-controlled stimuli videos and can offer means of measuring development outside of the lab. We discuss three types of motion tracking that lend themselves to developmental applications. First, marker-based systems track optical or electromagnetic markers or sensors placed on the body and offer high accuracy measurements. Second, markerless methods entail image processing of videos to track the movement of bodies without participants being hindered by physical markers. Third, inertial motion tracking measures three-dimensional movements and can be used in a variety of settings. The chapter concludes by examining three example topics from developmental literature in which motion tracking applications have contributed to our understanding of human development.

Research paper thumbnail of Muscle Synergies in Response to Biofeedback-Driven Gait Adaptations in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Frontiers in Physiology, Sep 27, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for a Locomotor Body Schema? Walking-Distance Estimation After Shank Elongation: Changes in the Limb Kinematics and

Research paper thumbnail of Erratum: Development of pendulum mechanism and kinematic coordination from the first unsupported steps in toddlers (Journal of Experimental Biology (2004) 207 (3797-3810))

The Journal of Experimental Biology, Oct 1, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of Control of Foot Trajectory in Walking Toddlers: Adaptation to Load Changes

Journal of Neurophysiology, Apr 1, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of Stepping Over Different Support Surfaces Kinematic Strategies in Newly Walking Toddlers

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in the Limb Kinematics and Walking-Distance Estimation After Shank Elongation: Evidence for a Locomotor Body Schema?

Journal of Neurophysiology, Mar 1, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of 12.4 Interaction of locomotor patterns with voluntarymovement

Gait & Posture, Jun 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of Age-Related Differences in Muscle Synergy Organization during Step Ascent at Different Heights and Directions

Applied sciences, Mar 14, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Muscle synergy structure and gait patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, Oct 6, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Kinematics in Newly Walking Toddlers Does Not Depend Upon Postural Stability

Journal of Neurophysiology, Jul 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The neural origin of switches in coordination of arm and leg movement during walking

Research paper thumbnail of Modular Control of Limb Movements during Human Locomotion

The Journal of Neuroscience, Oct 10, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of 1.3 Gait kinematics in newly walking toddlers

Gait & Posture, Jun 1, 2005

Research paper thumbnail of The development of mature gait patterns in children during walking and running

European Journal of Applied Physiology, Jan 13, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Decoding bipedal locomotion from the rat sensorimotor cortex

Journal of Neural Engineering, Sep 2, 2015

OBJECTIVE Decoding forelimb movements from the firing activity of cortical neurons has been inter... more OBJECTIVE Decoding forelimb movements from the firing activity of cortical neurons has been interfaced with robotic and prosthetic systems to replace lost upper limb functions in humans. Despite the potential of this approach to improve locomotion and facilitate gait rehabilitation, decoding lower limb movement from the motor cortex has received comparatively little attention. Here, we performed experiments to identify the type and amount of information that can be decoded from neuronal ensemble activity in the hindlimb area of the rat motor cortex during bipedal locomotor tasks. APPROACH Rats were trained to stand, step on a treadmill, walk overground and climb staircases in a bipedal posture. To impose this gait, the rats were secured in a robotic interface that provided support against the direction of gravity and in the mediolateral direction, but behaved transparently in the forward direction. After completion of training, rats were chronically implanted with a micro-wire array spanning the left hindlimb motor cortex to record single and multi-unit activity, and bipolar electrodes into 10 muscles of the right hindlimb to monitor electromyographic signals. Whole-body kinematics, muscle activity, and neural signals were simultaneously recorded during execution of the trained tasks over multiple days of testing. Hindlimb kinematics, muscle activity, gait phases, and locomotor tasks were decoded using offline classification algorithms. MAIN RESULTS We found that the stance and swing phases of gait and the locomotor tasks were detected with accuracies as robust as 90% in all rats. Decoded hindlimb kinematics and muscle activity exhibited a larger variability across rats and tasks. SIGNIFICANCE Our study shows that the rodent motor cortex contains useful information for lower limb neuroprosthetic development. However, brain-machine interfaces estimating gait phases or locomotor behaviors, instead of continuous variables such as limb joint positions or speeds, are likely to provide more robust control strategies for the design of such neuroprostheses.

Research paper thumbnail of Migration of Motor Pool Activity in the Spinal Cord Reflects Body Mechanics in Human Locomotion

Journal of Neurophysiology, Dec 1, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Motor Patterns During Walking on a Slippery Walkway

Journal of Neurophysiology, Feb 1, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Body Weight Control Is a Key Element of Motor Control for Toddlers’ Walking

Frontiers in Network Physiology, Mar 24, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Differential sets of cortical muscle synergy signatures during adult locomotion

Muscle synergy assessments are often employed to evaluate the modular organization of the spinal ... more Muscle synergy assessments are often employed to evaluate the modular organization of the spinal cord during a locomotion task. While they provide valuable insights into the pattern formation of the a-motoneurons at the spinal cord, by construction they cannot capture control from supra-spinal layers. We examined how locomotor muscle synergies are represented in the sensorimotor cortex, with particular focus on the cortico-synergy coherence as a measure of coupling along the cortico-spinal tract. Non-negative matrix factorization served to decompose multivariate electromyographic signals into muscle synergies. Their representations were localized in the cortex using coherence-based beamforming. Overall, the cortico-synergy coherence was maximal in sensorimotor areas especially in the beta-frequency band. However, only for the synergies timed to heel strike, that are related to the double support phases, the coherence was significant. These coherences were closely related to the timing of the activation patterns of the synergies, suggesting sensorimotor cortex to be strongly involved in emergence and control of these synergies.

Research paper thumbnail of Motion tracking in developmental research: Methods, considerations, and applications

Progress in Brain Research, 2020

In this chapter, we explore the use of motion tracking methodology in developmental research. Wit... more In this chapter, we explore the use of motion tracking methodology in developmental research. With motion tracking, also called motion capture, human movements can be precisely recorded and analyzed. Motion tracking provides developmental researchers with objective measurements of motor and (socio-)cognitive development. It can further be used to create carefully-controlled stimuli videos and can offer means of measuring development outside of the lab. We discuss three types of motion tracking that lend themselves to developmental applications. First, marker-based systems track optical or electromagnetic markers or sensors placed on the body and offer high accuracy measurements. Second, markerless methods entail image processing of videos to track the movement of bodies without participants being hindered by physical markers. Third, inertial motion tracking measures three-dimensional movements and can be used in a variety of settings. The chapter concludes by examining three example topics from developmental literature in which motion tracking applications have contributed to our understanding of human development.

Research paper thumbnail of Muscle Synergies in Response to Biofeedback-Driven Gait Adaptations in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Frontiers in Physiology, Sep 27, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence for a Locomotor Body Schema? Walking-Distance Estimation After Shank Elongation: Changes in the Limb Kinematics and