https://jneuroengrehab.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12984-017-0298-y?
- Andrew D. NordinEmail author,
- William Z. Rymer,
- Andrew A. Biewener,
- Andrew B. Schwartz,
- Daofen Chen and
- Fay B. Horak
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation201714:91
© The Author(s). 2017
Received: 6 March 2017
Accepted: 30 August 2017
Published: 11 September 2017
Abstract
We
summarize content from the opening thematic session of the 20th
anniversary meeting for Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement
(BANCOM). Scientific discoveries from the past 20 years of research are
covered, highlighting the impacts of rapid technological, computational,
and financial growth on motor control research. We discuss spinal-level
communication mechanisms, relationships between muscle structure and
function, and direct cortical movement representations that can be
decoded in the control of neuroprostheses. In addition to summarizing
the rich scientific ideas shared during the session, we reflect on
research infrastructure and capacity that contributed to progress in the
field, and outline unresolved issues and remaining open questions.
Keywords
Biomechanics Motor control Locomotion Cortex Spinal cord BANCOMBackground
At
the 20th anniversary meeting for Biomechanics and Neural Control of
Movement (BANCOM), the opening thematic session was chaired by Dr. Fay
Horak (Oregon Health & Science University). Presentations and
discussions covered insights from 20 years of research in the field of
motor control, delivered by Drs. Zev Rymer (Rehabilitation Institute of
Chicago), Andy Biewener (Harvard University), Andy Schwartz (University
of Pittsburgh), and Daofen Chen (National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke). Presentation themes included the impact of
technological advancements on motor control research, unresolved issues
in muscle biology and neurophysiology, and changes in the scientific
funding landscape. This brief review summarizes content presented by
each speaker, along with discussions from the audience.
Considerable
changes have occurred in the fields of biomechanics and motor control
over the past 20 years, changes made possible by rapid technological
advances in computing power and memory along with reduced physical size
of biotechnology hardware. Because of these changes, research approaches
have been reshaped and new questions have emerged. Previously, motor
control research was constrained to laboratory-based assessments of
individual neurons, muscles or joints, captured from low sample sizes.
In the past, reliance on large, expensive, external recording devices,
such as optical motion capture systems, understandably limited the
feasibility of large-scale, multivariate research. Today, whole-body
kinematic recordings using body-worn inertial measurement units,
wireless electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), and
functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems, and electrode
arrays for neural network recordings are increasingly commonplace.
Alongside these technical leaps, sociocultural bounds have expanded
research inclusion, as evidenced in the representation of speakers at
the 2016 BANCOM meeting. In contrast to the 1996 meeting, which included
three invited female speakers, 13 women were included as speakers in
2016. Such advancements will continue to shape our scientific landscape,
driving innovation through new technologies and perspectives.
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