 Mariana and McKenna demonstrating opal sensor placement and data |  Mariana's pup providing invaluable insight |  Denise and Swapna demonstrating a walking assessment in the lab |
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 Visualization of white matter fiber tracts |  |
The Mobility and Investigative Neuroimaging (MAIN) Laboratory aims to improve our understanding of the behavioral and neural correlates of walking in older adults and persons with neurologic diagnoses such as stroke. We are specifically interested in examining force production during overground walking, biomarkers of walking function after stroke, and neuromechanisms associated with response to therapy. Our research focuses on brain-behavior relationships by utilizing MRI (diffusion tensor imaging), quantitative measures of motor function (EMG, kinetics), and clinical measures of impairment and mobility. Additional areas of research include gait rehabilitation and outcome measure assessment. Such insight will help inform more individualized treatments to improve walking function and quality of life in both older adults and persons with neurologic injury.
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Research in the MAIN Lab has been supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Vermont and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at the NIH
TEAM MEMBERS
Denise Peters PT, DPT, PhD
Dr. Peters is an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science at the University of Vermont. She is a licensed physical therapist and researcher interested in the neural correlates of motor impairment and recovery, with an emphasis on walking function, in older adults and persons with neurologic injury. Dr. Peters completed her DPT and PhD in Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina, and a postdoctoral research fellowship in Neurophysiology and Neurorehabilitation at Emory University. Prior to (and during) her PhD and postdoctoral studies, she practiced as a physical therapist primarily in inpatient rehabilitation settings treating older adults with various health conditions and patients with neurologic diagnoses.
Joan E. Deffeyes, PhD
Dr. Deffeyes is our lab engineer and supports many of the technical aspects of our research. With training in mechanical engineering, biomechanics, and neuroscience, she uses her MatLab programming skills to develop custom data analysis algorithms for a wide range of physical therapy and motor control applications. Her research interests include topics at the interface of biomechanics and neuroscience, especially individual differences in motor control.
Graduate Students
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Swapna Balakrishnan
PT, DPT, NCS
Interprofessional Health Sciences PhD Student
McKenna Perry BS
Neuroscience PhD Student
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR YOUR TAGLINE.
About Swapna
Dr. Swapna Balakrishnan is a Licensed physical therapist and a Board-certified neuro clinical specialist. She is currently enrolled in the PhD Interprofessional Health Sciences Program at UVM. Her research interests are Wearable sensors, Mobile health technologies, Neuroplasticity and Neurorehabilitation. She currently serves as APTA- MA Central district assembly representative and recently joined the Digital communication committee of ANPT. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, travelling, swimming and reading
About McKenna
McKenna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Mercer University in 2018. She is now a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UVM. Her research interests include habit formation and addiction, neuroplastic changes post-stroke, and the neural correlates of walking. She is passionate about art, science, equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and her adorable pup, Cooper. :)
Her hope is to help neuroscience education be fun and approachable.
Undergraduate Students
Erin Kelly
Erin is a junior studying exercise science at UVM. She is currently on the path to attend graduate school for PT after her undergrad training, but also has an interest in adapted physical activity. She loves playing volleyball, hiking, and hanging with her two dogs Bane and Karl!
Alumni
Mariana Wingood, PT DPT, GCS, CEEAA, PhD
![IMG-0192[2851].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/637071_41a1fa7b508047bc9add1ac7c670de62~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_182,w_673,h_847/fill/w_194,h_244,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG-0192%5B2851%5D_JPG.jpg)
Katherine Langseder
Collaborators
Sambit Mohapatra, University of Vermont
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Nancy Gell, University of Vermont
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Jill Stewart, University of South Carolina
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Stacy Fritz, University of South Carolina
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Randy Trumbower, Spaulding Rehabilitation
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Andrew Tan, University of Colorado-Boulder
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Ryan McGinnis, University of Vermont
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