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| Name |
Bastian, Amy J. |
| Location
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Kennedy Krieger Institute |
| Primary Field
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Systems Neuroscience |
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 Research Interests
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Amy Bastian's research is focused on normal and disordered sensorimotor control and learning in humans. She is widely recognized for work on the cerebellar learning mechanisms that are involved in making sensorimotor predictions for accurate movement control. Bastian’s laboratory has also pioneered mechanistic studies of gait control and plasticity, motivated by the fact that walking is particularly vulnerable to neurological disease and has debilitating effects on function. Using novel techniques, including split-belt treadmills and virtual reality, she has shown how new walking patterns are acquired, retained, and generalized, and how distinct brain lesions alter these processes in children and adults. Her laboratory has demonstrated that fundamental behavioral processes in human motor learning are differentially impacted following cerebellar versus cerebral cortical brain damage. In sum, her work forms a novel mechanistic basis for new motor rehabilitation approached for adults and children with neurological damage. |
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