# Robotically Augmented Mental Practice for Neuromotor Facilitation

> **NIH NIH R21** · GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2021 · $407,538

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Upper limb motor function is often impaired due to neurologic injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injury.
The ultimate objective is to innovate effective motor rehabilitation for enhancing clinical outcomes in stroke
populations by discovering and applying scientific mechanisms and developing new engineering technologies
to facilitate neuromotor adaptation. In stroke rehabilitation, mental practice, such as motor imagery and action
observation, is a very effective intervention when performed appropriately. The challenge is that performance
quality and efficacy of mental practice are highly variable and can be compromised. It is hypothesized that
control and observation of robotic grasp and release actions via synergistic proximal muscle activation will
increase neuromotor excitability of the non-activated distal muscles and hand function due to cognitive
engagement with the externally present and visible robotic prosthesis. The Specific Aim of this proof of
concept and feasibility study is to develop and test robotically augmented mental practice with synergistic
proximal muscles for neuromotor facilitation of hand muscles. A robotically augmented mental practice will be
developed for individuals to grasp and release an object by controlling the associated actions of a sound-
generating robotic prosthesis utilizing surface electromyography (EMG) of shoulder/trunk muscles with deep
learning algorithms. To demonstrate the proof of concept of increased neuromotor excitability and hand
performance in able-bodied adults, transcranial magnetic stimulation will be applied to the motor cortex for the
non-activated hand muscles and reaction time and maximal voluntary contraction performances will be tested
with a finger in various practice conditions. The feasibility and possible trends in stroke survivors with upper
extremity disabilities will also be examined. The project will be performed at the Georgia Institute of
Technology by an interdisciplinary team of experts in fields directly related to the study: an applied physiologist,
mechanical and biomedical engineers, a physical therapist, and a clinical neuroscientist. The successful
completion of the study will provide augmented mental practice for neuromotor facilitation for distal muscles,
and evidence for efficacy will be provided in able-bodied adults and feasibility in post-stroke individuals. The
results will lead to the development of a more effective priming intervention before physical practice that can
facilitate functional improvement as part of stroke rehabilitation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10301588
- **Project number:** 1R21NS118435-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** MINORU SHINOHARA
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $407,538
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10301588

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10301588, Robotically Augmented Mental Practice for Neuromotor Facilitation (1R21NS118435-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10301588. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*