The title of Dr. Lena Ting's lecture is "Neuromechanics of gait and balance: Individual differences across motor skill and impairment."

Abstract: Our ability to move in the world, and even to stand upright depend on complex and flexible neuromechanical interactions between the brain and body. These rich interactions are shaped by multiple factors in our lives, leading to individual differences in how we move. Using a variety of neurophysiological and engineering approaches my lab has identifies common principles of movement across health and disease. By understanding how brain activity, muscle activity, and movement differ across highly skilled to motor impaired individuals, we can begin to understand how to personalize motor training and interventions that both prevent and improve motor deficits. Specific examples include the relationships between brain and muscle activity with motor function in ballet dancers, young and older adults, stroke survivors, and individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Please RSVP by Monday, February 13 to Jessica Smith at jabsmith@uga.edu. A parking code for the North Campus Deck will be sent one day before the event to all who RSVP.

Bio: Lena Ting directs the Neuromechanical Laboratory at Emory, focusing on complex, whole body movements such as walking and balance in healthy and neurologically impaired individuals, as well as skilled movements involved in dance and sport. Dr. Ting's work is highly interdisciplinary, and her lab has developed several computational methods to characterize and understand individual differences in movement and movement control and how these change in neurological disorders, as well as with rehabilitation and training. She also co-directs the Georgia Tech and Emory Neural Engineering Center and an NIH T32 in Computational Neural Engineering. 

The Clifford G. Lewis Lecture series is sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, funded through the generosity of the late Dr. Clifford Lewis, whose estate established this lecture series and a number of student awards in 1990. These lectures are presented annually discussing a broad field of topics related to education. Speakers are nationally recognized experts in their respective fields and have presented insight regarding current issues in society.