Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

The central goal of my research is to understand how the brain integrates multisensory information to ensure the maintenance of balance and posture, as well as perceptual stability in everyday life. Specifically, my lab studies the neural encoding of vestibular information, and how this information is combined with proprioceptive, visual, and motor signals to generate neural representations of our motion. Our work has significant implications for both understanding and advancing the treatment of vestibular and other motor disorders.

(1) Fundamental and Computational Neuroscience Research: Understanding how the brain builds predictive models of self-motion to ensure accurate behavior and stable perception. This involves advanced neuronal recording techniques, virtual reality platforms, and manipulation of neuronal populations in the brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex. Recent discoveries include how the cerebellum builds predictive models of self-motion got posture maintenance and stable perception.

 

(2) Neural prosthesis and rehabilitation: Collaborations with neurologists and physical therapists, to establish algorithms for brain computer interfaces (BCI) that convert the output of sensors into patterns of stimulation that can be transmitted through electrodes implanted in the vestibular sensory organs. By using a “biomimetic” approach, to mimic the brain’s encoding of vestibular information, the SNNL has advances prosthetic-driven outcomes, improving the lives of patients with vestibular dysfunction. Additionally, the lab assesses differences in vestibular input experienced by patients and healthy individuals during everyday activities, to inform the development of innovative rehabilitation and behavioral training methods.

 

(3) Advanced Techniques: The development of transformative neurophysiological, molecular, and genetic approaches to advance basic and clinical research on the vestibular system and self-motion processing pathways. Current experiments combine state-of-the-art molecular techniques with high density neuronal ensemble recording and focal stimulation approaches. The aim is to bridge the gap between genes, neuronal circuits, and behavior, to improve the brain’s ability to compensate following sensory loss.