This course will provide PhD students with an understanding of fundamental concepts of human motor control. This multidisciplinary field focuses on how the central nervous system regulates various neurophysiological, anatomical, and kinematic variables that are essential for executing movements. First, the attendees will be introduced to the anatomy and physiology of the human motor control system, using examples from both physiological and pathological conditions. Then, from this foundation, the course will focus on (i) state-of-the-art technologies to analyze human movements and (ii) techniques to model the human motor control system. Emphasis will be placed on the interpretation and critical evaluation of results. The course will be held online, with the option to attend hands-on sessions at the motion analysis laboratory of the PolitoBIOMed Lab. Teaching consists of virtual lectures, data collection sessions, group discussions, and computer laboratories. At the end of this course, the attendees should be able to: (i) understand how the central nervous system controls muscles involved in movements, (ii) model the human motor control system, and (iii) critically evaluate the results. The final assessment will involve a team project, where students will be required to apply the acquired knowledge to develop their own motor control model using experimental data acquired during the hands-on session.

Understanding the fundamentals of human motion analysis instrumentation and signal processing principles at a basic level is required.

Unit 1. Course introduction - prof. Ghislieri Unit 2. Anatomy and physiology of the human motor control system - prof. Carlino [6 hours] Unit 3. How to measure human movements - prof. Knaflitz [4 hours] a. Stereo-photogrammetric systems b. Magneto-inertial measurement units c. Baropodometric sensors d. Electromyographic systems Unit 4. How to model human motor control - prof. Ghislieri [6 hours] a. Muscle networks b. Muscle synergy theory c. Kinematic-muscle synergy theory Unit 5. Hands-on experience: acquiring data and building up a model - prof. Ghislieri [2 hours] a. Subject preparation and data collection b. Electromyographic or kinematic signal pre-processing c. Model definition d. Results interpretation Unit 6. Examples of clinical applications - prof. Ghislieri [2 hours] a. Neurological disorders b. Orthopedical disorders

A distanza in modalità sincrona

Sviluppo di project work in team

P.D.2-2 - Marzo

Lessons for the course will begin in March. Further details will follow soon.