The aim of this study is to contribute to the standardization of the new diagnostic tools assessing the motor manifestations of laterality in adults and children aged 8 to 10 years, both in terms of determining the theoretical concept and the selection of appropriate items, and the verification of structural hypotheses concerning the design of acceptable models, including the diagnostic quality of individual parts of the test battery. Moreover in this study we try to suggest new approach in assessing of motor laterality manifestation by means of relationship between cerebellar dominance and hand performance. The first part of this thesis deals with the concept of laterality, its manifestations and meaning in non-living systems and living organisms. As a human characteristic, laterality is manifested in a variety of functional and structural asymmetries. This part also discusses ways of diagnosing motor manifestations of laterality and the issue of cerebellar dominance, including its reflection in the form of asymmetry of the extinction physiological syndrome of upper limbs. The second part focuses on the process of the standardization study, the statistical method of structural equation modelling, and the actual design of test battery construction. The last part of this thesis presents the results...

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Essential Tremor (ET), a condition characterized by postural and kinetic tremor in the upper limbs, is one of the most prevalent movement disorders. While pharmaceutical and surgical treatment options exist, they are not ideal. Assistive devices have the potential to provide relief to patients but are largely unexplored for ET. Furthermore, prior characterizations of essential tremor have focused on endpoint tremor and provide insufficient detail for designing such a device. We propose and demonstrate a novel method for characterizing essential tremor in the 7 proximal degrees of freedom (DOF) of the upper limb in various postures. In addition, we provide a preliminary characterization in a small number of patients with mild ET. We collected data from 10 patients with ET. Subjects were instrumented with four electromagnetic sensors that recorded orientation of upper limb segments. After a calibration, each subject positioned his/her upper limb in 16 different postures for 15 seconds each. This procedure was repeated 4 times for each subject, with each repetition being considered a run. Sensor data were converted to angular kinematic data for each DOF using inverse kinematics, a practice unique to this study. These data were then analyzed in the frequency domain to calculate the power associated with the tremor in each DOF and posture. More specifically, we computed the area of the periodogram over the 4-12 Hz frequency band typically associated with ET [narrow-band area (NBA)] and over the wider frequency band from 2 Hz to the Nyquist frequency [wide-band area (WBA)]. If significant peaks were found in the 4-12 Hz band, their frequency and amplitude were reported. Mixed-model ANOVA tests were used to investigate effects of DOF, posture, run, gravity, and patient characteristics on reported measures. NBA and WBA varied significantly between DOF, being lowest in the wrist, intermediate in the shoulder, and greatest in the elbow and forearm (pronation-supination). NBA and WBA also varied significantly with posture. Only 5% of observations had significant peaks, with 49% of peaks occurring in wrist flexion-extension and 39% occurring in wrist radial-ulnar deviation. Peak frequency was quite stereotyped (5.7 Hz ± 1.3Hz). Run had no significant effects, indicating that tremor measures were consistent over the duration of the experiment. Effects of gravity and demographic factors on measures were mixed and did not present a discernible pattern. This preliminary characterization suggests that tremor may be focused in a subset of upper limb DOF, being greatest (in terms of power) in elbow flexion-extension and forearm pronation-supination, and most concentrated (with peaks at a stereotyped frequency) in wrist flexion-extension and radial-ulnar deviation. Our method of 7 DOF characterization through inverse kinematics, in conjunction with future research (isolation studies, EMG, and finger DOF) may allow for optimal tremor suppression by an orthosis.

Internal models are believed to be crucial components in human motor control. It has been suggested that the central nervous system (CNS) uses forward and inverse models as internal representations of the motor systems. However, it is still unclear how the CNS implements the high-dimensional control of our movements. In this project, generative adversarial networks (GAN) are studied as a generative model of movement data. It is shown that, for a relatively small number of effectors, it is possible to train a GAN which produces new movement samples that are plausible given a simulator environment. It is believed that these models can be extended to generate high-dimensional movement data. Furthermore, this project investigates the possibility to use a trained GAN as an integrated forward and inverse model for motor control. / Interna modeller tros vara en viktig del av mänsklig rörelsekontroll. Det har föreslagits att det centrala nervsystemet (CNS) använder sig av framåtriktade modeller och inversa modeller för intern representation av motorsystemen. Dock är det fortfarande okänt hur det centrala nervsystemet implementerar denna högdimensionella kontroll. Detta examensarbete undersöker användningen av generativa konkurrerande nätverk som generativ modell av rörelsedata. Experiment visar att dessa nätverk kan tränas till att generera ny rörelsedata av en tvådelad arm och att den genererade datan efterliknar träningsdatan. Vi tror att nätverken även kan modellera mer högdimensionell rörelsedata. I projektet undersöks även användningen av dessa nätverk som en integrerad framåtriktad och invers modell.

Motor intent and control rely on complex high-level and spinal networks. Untilnow, little is known about this system’s organization and mechanisms. Whilecognitive abilities play an essential role in planning movements, learning andmemorizing, their involvement during stereotyped tasks execution, aslocomotion, is still controversial. Recently, the relationship between cognitivefunctions and gait has received increasing attention.Here, a machine learning approach is used to investigate the engagement ofdi↵erent cortical areas during motor activity. In particular, data coming fromthree subjects with implanted electrodes have been analyzed in the frequencydomain to predict their tasks’ state. The choice of intracortical data hasallowed to elude motion artifacts’ presence and exploitation concern. Goodand satisfactory results have been achieved in the case of not highlystereotyped activity. During ambulation, an evidence of an engagement of thebrain has been shown even if with lower classification performances. Moreover,the cortical areas that have emerged in this analysis seem to be in line withthe relative functionality hypothesized in literature.

PURPOSE: Vocal hyperfunction (VH) is considered a functional voice disorder, resulting in voice complaints of hoarseness and fatigue; however, recent work suggests that voice changes in VH may result from impairments in the neural control of voice (specifically, how voice perception is integrated into voice production). This study sought to clarify whether impaired auditory acuity of vocal pitch and the temporal production of voice, two known impairments in speakers with VH, were correlated. METHOD: The current study included 29 adults with VH. Vocal auditory perception was assessed via acuity to self-produced vocal pitch (quantified using an adaptive two-forced-choice paradigm). To investigate temporal acoustic measures of voice production, voice onset time (VOT) variability of voiced and voiceless stop consonants in a carrier phrase were separately assessed using a coefficient of variation (CoV). Two Pearson product-moment correlations were completed to assess the relationship between these measures of vocal perception and vocal production of either voiced or voiceless VOTs. RESULTS: No statistically significant correlations were observed between auditory acuity and CoV of VOT for neither voiced nor voiceless stop consonants. CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that impairments in vocal pitch acuity and VOT production in VH are not governed by the same underlying mechanism. Further investigation is recommended to determine the etiology driving these vocal perception- and production-based impairments observed in prior work.

ual-three phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (DTP-PMSM) are becom ing more popular in the automotive field. Their potential to increase the reliability and efficiency of the vehicle makes them an attractive replacement for the three phase alternative. However, the increased number of phases makes the control of the machine more complex. As a result, conventional controllers can see reduced perfor mance, especially at high speeds and torques. Currently, with the increased process ing power of modern micro-controllers and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), many researchers are investigating whether finite-control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) can be a suitable alternative. FCS-MPC is simple to implement and can achieve a better dynamic performance when compared to other controllers. Furthermore, the algorithm can be augmented for specific optimization goals and non-linearities to the system, which gives the designer creativity in improving the system response. However, Model-Predictive Control suffers from a variable switching frequency as well as reduced steady-state performance. It generally has increased current ripple in the phase currents. This thesis presents a method of reducing the steady-state ripples in FCS-MPC by introducing the use of virtual-flux in the model equations, the incremental model, and a dynamic vector search-space. All three of these applications make FCS-MPC have a iv significantly improved steady-state performance when compared to the conventional algorithm, while still keeping the benefit of the improved dynamic response. The benefits of the proposed techniques techniques are verified through simulation as well as on an experimental setup. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Background: Basketball is one of the most popular physical activities in the world and lower limb joints are constantly exposed to physical stress. Girls have been shown to perform athletic movement with an adverse biomechanical profile with high risk for injury. We need more knowledge about how we can introduce motion control training in their regular training program in a simple and uncomplicated way. This study aims to examine the effect and experience of a preventive biomechanics program for female adolescent basketball players. Method: Twelve female basketball players, 12-13 years old, participated in this uncontrolled pilot intervention study. The seven weeks intervention included a 12 minutes preventive biomechanics program twice a week and a daily 2 minutes homes exercise. Performance on the Y-Balance test (YBT), a motor control test battery (MCTB) and hip abductor strength (HAS) was assessed before and after the intervention. Their experience was evaluated using a questionnaire after the intervention. Result: The participants improved significantly in all three outcome measures, YBT, MCTB and HAS after completed intervention. All participants indicated in the questionnaire that they were positive about the intervention and that they would choose to participate again. Conclusion: A seven week preventive biomechanics program twice a week showed positive effects on both motor control exercises and subjective experience among female adolescent basketball players. These results indicate that the training intervention was well accepted and had positive effects on balance, trunk motor control and hip muscle strength. This may in turn have positive effect on injury prevention. However, that needs to be investigated in future RCT with longer follow up time.

Phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (Pnmt) is the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of noradrenaline to adrenaline. These catecholamines are synthesized in the medulla of the adrenal gland and by some neurons of the central nervous system. The precise location of Pnmt action in the brain and its physiological significance are unknown. Prior studies led by Aaron Owji, a graduate student in Dr. Ebert’s laboratory, showed that mice with selectively ablated Pnmt cells show signs of neurological defects such as abnormal gait, weakened grip strength, lack of balance, reduced movement, and defective reflexes during tail suspension tests. The cerebellum is a small section of the brain that is responsible for fine-tuning motor commands. Since the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum act as the sole source of output from the cerebellar cortex, impairment of these cells could possibly account for the motor deficits seen in the mice models. The purpose of this project is to determine if there is indeed a change in Purkinje cells between wild type mice and Pnmt-ablated mice. The first aim is to identify quantitative differences in cell count between both genotypes. The second aim is to determine any morphological changes in the Purkinje cells. The main technique used in this project is immunohistochemistry in which cerebellum tissue from mice models are stained with Calbindin (a cellular marker for Purkinje neurons) and imaged with a confocal microscope. Results showed a slight reduction in the Purkinje cells of the ablated mice compared to the control genotype, accompanied with observable differences in cell structure. Understanding catecholamine pathway mechanisms in the nervous system is imperative for elucidating and targeting key players in neurodegenerative disorders.

Muscular dystrophy is a genetically linked myopathy with no cure available. The lack of a cure makes early detection and treatment of muscular dystrophy imperative. When reviewing protocols examining muscular fatigue at submaximal isometric contractions, proper warm-up appeared to be absent and could have caused skewed results and conclusions. This study examines the effects of implementing a warm-up protocol before fatiguing trials. In this study, 10 adult subjects conducted fatiguing protocols with the right rectus at submaximal isometric contractions. The warm-up period included a light walk along with contractions at 20% and 33% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) levels. Active recovery measures were also taken into consideration as subjects conducted the fatiguing protocol to relieve the onset effects of lactic acidosis. The contraction durations with and without warmup were found to be significantly different (p=0.001, t-test). Subjects without warmup had a 73.30 second contraction duration difference between their first and second fatiguing contraction, whereas subjects with warmup had a difference of 5.94 seconds. Future studies may investigate the effects of the warm-up on the electromechanical efficiency (EME) and mechanomyography (MMG) frequency relationship.