Physiology “brown-bag” lunchtime seminars are normally held on selected WEDNESDAYS at noon in Applied Physiology Building, room 1253 (or as indicated). Special seminar dates/times outside of the regular schedule are indicated as such.
Contact Dr. Boris Prilutsky, boris.prilutsky@biosci.gatech.edu, to be considered as a future speaker, added to the e-mail distribution list, if you would like to meet with a speaker, or for other seminar-related inquiries.
For directions: Applied Physiology
SEMINAR: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Mechanisms of Spinally Mediated Inhibition
Adam De Boef, PhD
School of Applied Physiology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Abstract
Proprioceptive feedback plays a crucial role in motor control. Proprioceptive feedback allows muscles to interact with one another, through excitatory and inhibitory pathways to fine tune dynamic movement. Historically, there is a debate about the extent to which muscle length sensitive and force sensitive proprioceptive afferents contribute to inter-muscular interactions. Furthermore, the regulation of these proprioceptive networks is poorly understood. Previous work from our lab suggests inhibitory pathways, when length sensitive Ia reciprocal inhibition connections are absent, are mediated mainly by the force sensitive Ib pathways. However, historical work on synaptic connections within the spinal cord suggests the connections should be mediated by a combined length and force contribution. I will discuss recent research aimed at bridging the gap between these two bodies of work.
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Bio: Adam De Boef received his Ph.D. in Applied Physiology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where his research was focused on proprioceptive circuits before and after spinal cord injury in the animal model. He also collaborated with Dr. Mark Lyle at Emory University to evaluate the efficacy of preclinical methodologies to study the Ib system in humans. Overall, his research aimed to understand how proprioceptive information is integrated within the spinal cord to influence movement. Adam is currently starting a startup company in San Francisco focused on the advancement of wearable devices. |
Host: Boris I. Prilutsky, PhD
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: 555 14th street NW, Atlanta 30318; Applied Physiology Building, room 1253; Zoom Link
SEMINAR: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Physiological Adaptations, Maladaptations & Bioengineering Interventions with Extreme Hot Weather
Michael N. Sawka, PhD
School of Applied Physiology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Abstract
This is a preview of an invited lecture by National Institutes of Health (NIH) program: Demystifying Science: Bridging Advances in Basic Biologic & Engineering Sciences with Medicine and Health. NIH requested a high-level review regarding impact of extreme hot weather exposure on human adaptation and maladaptation. Topics to be discussed are: a) What is Extreme Hot Weather? b) Physiology of Acute Heat Stress; c) Adaptations to Chronic Heat Stress; d) Hyperthermia induced performance impairments; e) Fluid Requirements and hydration impact; f) Health and Serious Heat Illness; and f) Bioengineering interventions to manage heat strain.
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Bio: Dr. Michael N. Sawka is Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a retired Department of Army Science and Technology Senior Scientist appointee and held numerous research, academic and executive positions. He is an expert in adaptation / maladaptation to environmental extremes (heat, cold, high-altitude), exercise physiology, thermoregulation, fluid / electrolyte balance, and exertional heat illness. Dr. Sawka published >320 full-length peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters (Google Scholar h-index = 100; >37,800 literature citations); edited graduate textbooks on environmental physiology and exercise physiology. Dr. Sawka served on or chaired many editorial boards, scientific advisory boards / councils / panels. His honors include the American College of Sports Medicine’s Visiting Scholars Award (1982), Military Medical Merit Medallion (2005), American College of Sports Medicine’s Citation Award (2010) and American Physiological Society’s (Environmental & Exercise Section) Honor Award (2016). |
Host: Mindy Millard-Stafford, PhD
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: 555 14th street NW, Atlanta 30318; Applied Physiology Building, room 1253; Zoom Link
SEMINAR: Friday, February 16, 2024
Interfacing with the National Science Foundation: White papers and the role of program directors
Robert Scheidt, PhD
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin
Abstract
The presenter for this discussion is Dr. Robert Scheidt, PhD, from the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Scheidt recently completed a 4-year term with the National Science Foundation as a Program Director for the Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus (M3X) program, the Future of Work and the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF) program, and the Foundational Research in Robotics program (FRR). Each of these programs support multidisciplinary research bridging gaps between human behavior, machine intelligence, and societal impact. The presentation / discussion is primarily targeted to faculty seeking to capitalize on research funding opportunities at the National Science Foundation. Dr. Scheidt will provide personal insights into proposal preparation and the NSF’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria. He will also describe the white paper mechanism and its role in promoting useful discussions between proposal writers and NSF Program Directors.
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Dr. Scheidt earned the BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University in 1989 and the MS and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University in 1992 and 1999. Before taking a faculty position at Marquette University in 2000, Dr. Scheidt served as a systems engineer at Baxter Healthcare and as Senior Research Scientist at Medical Research Labs Inc., where he developed commercial electromechanical medical devices. Dr. Scheidt founded and directs the Neuromotor Control Laboratory at Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin; the lab uses robotic tools, simple virtual reality systems, and wearable technologies to probe how the human nervous system uses sensory information to optimize movements and interactions with the physical environment. The work advances a fundamental understanding of how healthy and injured brains control body movements. Dr. Scheidt recently completed a 4-year term with the National Science Foundation as a Program Director for the Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus (M3X) program, the Future of Work and the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF) program, and the Foundational Research in Robotics program (FRR). |
Host: Boris I. Prilutsky, PhD
Special Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: 555 14th street NW, Atlanta 30318; Applied Physiology Building, room 1253; Zoom Link
SEMINAR: Friday, February 16, 2024
Sensory contributions to the coordination, control, and adaptation of goal-directed movements
Robert Scheidt, PhD
Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin
Abstract
Sensorimotor deficits are common after injuries such as stroke and can compromise independent living and quality of life. Despite decades of research, we still lack full understanding of the basic neural mechanisms supporting sensorimotor control, how they may be compromised by neuromotor injury, and how the resulting impairments can be mitigated. In this talk, I will present ongoing research performed in the Neuromotor Control Lab at Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin to address each of these knowledge gaps. After establishing the importance of sensory feedback to the successful completion of movements in the presence of environmental disturbances, I will describe neuroimaging studies that identified neural mechanisms contributing to error correction on a moment-by-moment and movement-by-movement basis. I will then describe studies characterizing the impact of sensorimotor injury on arm posture and movement control. I will conclude by summarizing some of our efforts to mitigate deficits of sensorimotor coordination and control in the acute and chronic stages of stroke recovery.
Host: Boris I. Prilutsky, PhD
Special Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Location: 555 14th street NW, Atlanta 30318; Applied Physiology Building, room 1253; Zoom Link