The Sensorimotor Control and Learning Lab (SCiLL) congratulate Kylee Graham on successfully defending their Master's of Science thesis titled "The relative contributions of different sensory afferent and corticocortical projections on the motor cortex during skilled motor behaviour".
Kylee's thesis research used a state-of-the-art, non-invasive brain stimulation technology called controllable pulse parameter transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTMS). Kylee employed this cutting-edge technology identify the relative effects of different groups of neurons in shaping the motor commands that are sent to the muscles during skilled behaviour. As part of their thesis Kylee developed a new protocol to assess short-interval cortical inhibition (SICI) by manipulating the duration of the cTMS stimulus. SICI is a method to assess corticocortical influences over motor output. Kylee combined these SICI assessments with short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI). SAI is a method to assess the sensory influence over motor cortex output. Kylee quantified SAI and SICI at different stages of planning and execution of a skilled movement. Kylee's research thesis provides new insight into the complexity of the neural control of skilled movement.
The SCiLL lab is excited that Kylee will continue to pursue their research interests as a doctoral student in the SCiLL lab starting September 2024.
Congratulations, Kylee!