The Neural Control of Human Movement Research Group is dedicated to exploring the intricate relationship between neurophysiological function and human movement. Our research spans basic investigations in healthy individuals, studies involving patients, and the development of therapeutic interventions. We focus on addressing pressing global health challenges, including long-term conditions, to understand how these factors impact movement and overall health.
Our mission is to advance understanding of the fundamental neuromuscular mechanisms underlying human movement control and behaviour, ultimately translating this knowledge into improved clinical outcomes.
Our aims are to:
- Explore Fundamental Principles: Investigate the key principles of human movement control in both healthy individuals and patients, providing insights into the underlying neurophysiological processes.
- Enhance Clinical Care: Improve clinical care by standardising diagnostic and rehabilitation methodologies, ensuring consistency and efficacy in treatment approaches.
- Collaborate with Clinical Researchers: Partner with clinical researchers to address the unmet needs of diverse patient populations, focusing on tailored interventions that improve patient outcomes.
- Innovate Technological Solutions: Develop and implement new technological approaches for assessing and enhancing brain function and sensorimotor control, driving advancements in rehabilitation techniques.
- Conduct World-Class Research: Engage in cutting-edge fundamental and applied research to enhance human health span, and influence practice globally.
People
Research Associate in Human Neuroscience
Reader in Neurophysiology
Senior Lecturer
Professor of Neurology and Interface Disorders
Lecturer in Neural Control of Movement
Lecturer in Biomechanics and Human Movement Control
Projects
Human muscle and spinal activation in response to loading
Human standing can be considered the framework for independent movement. Understanding the basic anatomy and physiology of human standing is crucial to support the development of technology aimed at restoring independent gait, for example in spinal cord injury survivors. This project aims to investigate muscle and spinal activation at different gravitational loads. This work will enhance our understanding of human whole body motor control and could inform future developments in the area of neural stimulation.
Modulating cortical connectivity with transcranial magnetic stimulation to enhance sensorimotor function in movement disorders
The generation of skilled upper limb movements relies on a complex neuronal network including several cerebral cortical and sub-cortical areas. The processing of multi-modal sensory information and its efficient transfer across this network are critical to producing precise and adaptable movements in an ever changing environment. Damage to this network dramatically impacts on sensorimotor function, leading to devastating movement disorders. Novel transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques allow probing the connectivity between two cortical nodes, showing whether sensorimotor information is transferred efficiently and what alterations occur following cortical damage. Recent findings also reveal that up-regulation of cortical connectivity via TMS-induced Hebbian-like neuroplasticity yields improved performance in sensory tasks. However, it is unknown whether these gains can transfer to motor control. We hypothesise that up-regulating the connectivity between specific sensorimotor areas will improve sensorimotor control in healthy volunteers, with the potential to restore sensorimotor function in patients with movement disorders.
Non-invasive Neural Biomarkers For Tracking The Effects Of Anti-Seizure Medications
Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for electrical signalling in the nervous system in both the brain and peripheral nerve cells. Sodium channel blockers are commonly used as first-line treatments for epilepsy and pain management. Despite their effectiveness, our understanding of their effects on the human brain remains limited due to a lack of non-invasive techniques to assess ion channel function. More broadly, understanding sodium channel function has implications for other disorders affecting nerve excitability, such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, and may offer insights into the role of nerve excitability in learning and memory, including the skill acquisition. This project aims to develop a robust, non-invasive method using transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine brain excitability and monitor the effects of sodium channel-blocking medications. By improving our ability to assess the impact of these drugs, we aim to enhance personalised approaches to neurological disorders.
Publications
Publications of lab members:
Awards
Our work in the media
- Channel 4:
Over 30 Brits bid to become first physically disabled astronaut - King's College London:
King's researcher wins bid for new European Space Agency team
Our Awards
- Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award
Dr Ricci Hannah was awarded a grant from The Academy of Medical Sciences through the Springboard scheme, which supports exceptional biomedical research. - The Royal Society - International Exchanges 2024
Dr Irene Di Giulio was awarded a grant in collaboration with Prof Vassilia Hatzitaki entitled ‘StHuS: STopping HUman Sway’. Through this grant, the teams at King’s College London and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki will investigate the mechanisms of human standing control. - Private Physiotherapy Education Fund (PPEF)
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck has been awarded a grant to work with Dr Irene Di Giulio and Dr Letizia Gionfrida for: Developing An Accessible, Cost Effective Motion Analysis Tool For Arm Movement After Stroke - Physiotherapy Research Foundation
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck was awarded a grant in collaboration with Dr Irene Di Giulio, Dr Letizia Gionfrida, Dr Tim Neate, Dr Martin Chapman and Prof Vasa Curcin entitled: Developing A Software Solution Embedded Into Electronic Health Records To Measure Arm Biomechanics After Stroke. - Innovate UK
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck and Dr Marco Davare have been awarded a grant to work with Valkyrie Industries and Dr Gareth Jones from Guy's and St Thomas' Hosiptal to develop: Stroke Rehabilitation Using FES And Gamified VR.
Activities
Physiological Society Virtual Journal Club
We hosted a session of The Physiological Society Virtual Journal Club on motor learning and cerebral cortex control. Watch a recording of the event via the link below.
Parastronaut work
More than 250 people have applied to a project which hopes to send a physically disabled person into space for the first time. In the words of Dr Irene Di Guilio: "Our hypothesis is that there are some disabilities that could be beneficial for spaceflight, for example, people with double leg amputation could be better suited for spaceflight.” Many astronauts experience a “fluid shift from the brain to the legs or vice versa” during take-off and landing, and a double leg amputee may have a less adverse reaction, she said. Watch Channel 4 News’ sports reporter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, who is an amputee, undergo a training programme which mimicked some of the aspects of Esa’s “parastronaut” scheme.
Externally focused events
The group hosted a highly successful international conference titled “Neurophysiological Bases of Human Movement”, with support from The Physiological Society.
PhD students
People
Research Associate in Human Neuroscience
Reader in Neurophysiology
Senior Lecturer
Professor of Neurology and Interface Disorders
Lecturer in Neural Control of Movement
Lecturer in Biomechanics and Human Movement Control
Projects
Human muscle and spinal activation in response to loading
Human standing can be considered the framework for independent movement. Understanding the basic anatomy and physiology of human standing is crucial to support the development of technology aimed at restoring independent gait, for example in spinal cord injury survivors. This project aims to investigate muscle and spinal activation at different gravitational loads. This work will enhance our understanding of human whole body motor control and could inform future developments in the area of neural stimulation.
Modulating cortical connectivity with transcranial magnetic stimulation to enhance sensorimotor function in movement disorders
The generation of skilled upper limb movements relies on a complex neuronal network including several cerebral cortical and sub-cortical areas. The processing of multi-modal sensory information and its efficient transfer across this network are critical to producing precise and adaptable movements in an ever changing environment. Damage to this network dramatically impacts on sensorimotor function, leading to devastating movement disorders. Novel transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques allow probing the connectivity between two cortical nodes, showing whether sensorimotor information is transferred efficiently and what alterations occur following cortical damage. Recent findings also reveal that up-regulation of cortical connectivity via TMS-induced Hebbian-like neuroplasticity yields improved performance in sensory tasks. However, it is unknown whether these gains can transfer to motor control. We hypothesise that up-regulating the connectivity between specific sensorimotor areas will improve sensorimotor control in healthy volunteers, with the potential to restore sensorimotor function in patients with movement disorders.
Non-invasive Neural Biomarkers For Tracking The Effects Of Anti-Seizure Medications
Voltage-gated sodium channels are essential for electrical signalling in the nervous system in both the brain and peripheral nerve cells. Sodium channel blockers are commonly used as first-line treatments for epilepsy and pain management. Despite their effectiveness, our understanding of their effects on the human brain remains limited due to a lack of non-invasive techniques to assess ion channel function. More broadly, understanding sodium channel function has implications for other disorders affecting nerve excitability, such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease, and may offer insights into the role of nerve excitability in learning and memory, including the skill acquisition. This project aims to develop a robust, non-invasive method using transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine brain excitability and monitor the effects of sodium channel-blocking medications. By improving our ability to assess the impact of these drugs, we aim to enhance personalised approaches to neurological disorders.
Publications
Publications of lab members:
Awards
Our work in the media
- Channel 4:
Over 30 Brits bid to become first physically disabled astronaut - King's College London:
King's researcher wins bid for new European Space Agency team
Our Awards
- Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award
Dr Ricci Hannah was awarded a grant from The Academy of Medical Sciences through the Springboard scheme, which supports exceptional biomedical research. - The Royal Society - International Exchanges 2024
Dr Irene Di Giulio was awarded a grant in collaboration with Prof Vassilia Hatzitaki entitled ‘StHuS: STopping HUman Sway’. Through this grant, the teams at King’s College London and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki will investigate the mechanisms of human standing control. - Private Physiotherapy Education Fund (PPEF)
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck has been awarded a grant to work with Dr Irene Di Giulio and Dr Letizia Gionfrida for: Developing An Accessible, Cost Effective Motion Analysis Tool For Arm Movement After Stroke - Physiotherapy Research Foundation
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck was awarded a grant in collaboration with Dr Irene Di Giulio, Dr Letizia Gionfrida, Dr Tim Neate, Dr Martin Chapman and Prof Vasa Curcin entitled: Developing A Software Solution Embedded Into Electronic Health Records To Measure Arm Biomechanics After Stroke. - Innovate UK
Dr Ulrike Hammerbeck and Dr Marco Davare have been awarded a grant to work with Valkyrie Industries and Dr Gareth Jones from Guy's and St Thomas' Hosiptal to develop: Stroke Rehabilitation Using FES And Gamified VR.
Activities
Physiological Society Virtual Journal Club
We hosted a session of The Physiological Society Virtual Journal Club on motor learning and cerebral cortex control. Watch a recording of the event via the link below.
Parastronaut work
More than 250 people have applied to a project which hopes to send a physically disabled person into space for the first time. In the words of Dr Irene Di Guilio: "Our hypothesis is that there are some disabilities that could be beneficial for spaceflight, for example, people with double leg amputation could be better suited for spaceflight.” Many astronauts experience a “fluid shift from the brain to the legs or vice versa” during take-off and landing, and a double leg amputee may have a less adverse reaction, she said. Watch Channel 4 News’ sports reporter Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, who is an amputee, undergo a training programme which mimicked some of the aspects of Esa’s “parastronaut” scheme.
Externally focused events
The group hosted a highly successful international conference titled “Neurophysiological Bases of Human Movement”, with support from The Physiological Society.
PhD students
Our Partners
The Academy of Medical Sciences
Group lead
Senior Lecturer