Monica A. Perez, P.T., Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation- P.T., Ph.D University of Miami School of Medicine (2003)
- Office: 4074 Biomedical Science Tower-3
- Telephone:412-383-6563
- Fax:412-383-9061
- E-mail: perezmo@pitt.edu
- Website:
Motor control in humans.
Research Summary:
The focus of Dr. Perez's research is on understanding how the brain and spinal cord control voluntary movements in healthy humans and in individuals with spinal cord injury. This theme is mainly investigated from a neurophysiological point of view, using a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and peripheral nerve stimulation techniques.
Single and paired-pulse TMS and spinal cord reflex protocols are used to examine changes in excitatory and inhibitory pathways in humans. Particularly we use TMS-based methods to investigate the physiology of intrinsic cortical connections in the brain as well as the interactions between them. These protocols open the possibility to estimate excitability in GABA-ergic circuit in the human cortex. We employ spinal cord reflex protocols to examine changes in presynaptic inhibition and reciprocal inhibition between antagonistic lower and upper limb muscles during movement.
This work is complemented by studies that focus on understanding the neuronal mechanisms involved in motor skill acquisition involving the hand and leg representation of the primary motor cortex. Current research projects focus on topics such as interhemispheric interactions between primary motor cortices during unimanual and bimanual movements and intermanual transfer of motor learning in healthy humans and in individuals with spinal cord injury.
Selected Publications:
Perez, M.A. and Cohen, L.G. Interhemispheric inhibition between primary motor cortices: what have we learned? J Physiology. 587: 725-726, 2009.
Perez, M.A. and Cohen LG. Scaling of motor cortical excitability during unimanual force generation. Cortex. 45: 1065-1071, 2009.
Perez, M.A., Tanaka, S., Wise, S.P., Willingham, D.T. and Cohen, L.G. Time-specific
Contribution of the supplementary motor area to intermanual transfer of procedural knowledge. J Neuroscience. 28: 9664-9669, 2008.
Perez, M.A. and Cohen, L.G. Mechanisms underlying functional changes in the primary motor cortex ipsilateral to an active hand. J Neuroscience. 28: 5631-5640, 2008.
Perez, M.A., Tanaka, S., Wise, S.P., Sadato, N., Tanabe, H.C, Willingham, D.T. and Cohen L.G. Neural substrates of intermanual transfer of a newly acquired motor skill. Current Biology. 17: 1896-1902, 2007.