Premotor networks in the human brain: anatomy, physiology and modulation in disease. (360G-Wellcome-078204_Z_05_Z)

This project aims to develop novel neurorehabilitation strategies to promote motor recovery after stroke. It is focused on the human premotor cortex (PMC), a region shown to be critically involved in recovery of movement ability after stroke. I propose to study the anatomy, physiology and functional connectivity of PMC circuits in the healthy human brain, to test for changes in these circuits after stroke, and to assess the long term effects of modulating plasticity in PMC. My hypothesis is that by modulating activity in PMC we will enhance the effects of experience-dependent learning and plasticity in healthy controls and the beneficial effects of rehabilitative therapies in patients after stroke.In the process of addressing this clinical question I will also investigate the basic anatomy and physiology of PMC in the healthy brain. In particular, I will characterise the regional anatomy of the human premotor cortex using information on brain connectivity derived from diffusion MRI. Further, I will test the functional connections between PMC and other brain regions using paired-pulse TMS and FMRI - in particular to look for hemispheric dominance effects, changes in functional connectivity of PMC after stroke, and task-dependent modulations in PMC circuits.