A new postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Rossitza Draganova, has joined the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory (HSC) which is under the direction of Dr. Juergen Konczak.  Dr. Draganova, a native of Bulgaria, arrived in April and will work on a project that investigates new forms of sensorimotor training for patients with a neurodegeneration of the cerebellum.

These patients exhibit motor problems that collectively are called ataxia. Currently, there are no treatment options available for these patients, yet their motor problems graduallyincrease as the disease progresses. HSC will investigate to what extent these patients can relearn motor function as well as map the neuroplastic changes in their brains that are associated with training.

This a joint project with colleagues at the University Medical Center in Essen, Germany. Funding for this 3-year project is provided through a grant from the German Science Foundation.