The Problem Neurological conditions like spinal cord injury, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease can greatly reduce a person’s ability to move, use their hands, and live independently. While rehabilitation technology has improved, most treatments are not tailored to the individual and rely on rough clinical tests that miss important changes happening in the nervous system. As a result, the true effects of rehabilitation and brain or nerve stimulation are often hidden. In order to address this, Dr. Madarshahian’s research develops objective, data-driven biomarkers that quantify neurophysiological state with greater precision than traditional assessments. These tools reveal changes that clinical scales miss, enabling more accurate evaluation of interventions and more individualized rehabilitation strategies. Her work also includes methods to personalize transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation through closed-loop techniques and wireless sensing, allowing real-time insight into how stimulation parameters influence neural function. The Approach Dr. Madarshahian’s research combines motor control science with advanced electrophysiology and neuromodulation to create objective tools for measuring and improving motor function. A key innovation is the coordination index—based on highdensity EMG, motor-unit activity, and synergy analysis—which reveals how the nervous system organizes movement in people with spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and in healthy individuals. Community/Culture: Precise, affordable, noninvasive tools enable earlier disease detection, improved treatment evaluation, and better care decisions for people with motor impairments. Development of Objective, Data-Driven Measurement Tools for Neurorehabilitation “Objective biomarkers give us a window into the nervous system that clinical assessments cannot. When we see these hidden neurophysiological changes, we can personalize rehabilitation in ways that truly matter for patients’ recovery.” Shirin Madarshahian, PhD Short Term Impact In the short term, Dr. Madarshahian’s research creates objective measurement systems that reveal neurophysiological changes missed by traditional assessments, improving understanding of nervous system responses and enabling precise, data-driven rehabilitation and neuromodulation treatments. Longer Term Impact In the long term, this work translates objective neurophysiological biomarkers into clinical practice for precise assessment, personalized rehabilitation, and deeper insight into motor control. By advancing closed-loop electrical stimulation, it enables real-time, adaptive interventions tailored to individual neural activity. Societal Impact This work delivers clear societal benefit by enabling more precise, personalized rehabilitation that improves quality of life for people with motor impairments. By advancing objective neurophysiological biomarkers and adaptive stimulation technologies, it supports earlier detection of disease, clearer evaluation of treatment effects, and better identification of at-risk individuals. These innovations also provide clinicians with affordable, noninvasive tools to make more informed care decisions, strengthening both individual and community well-being. Societal impact in the following areas: For more information visit https://health.lehigh.edu/research-partners or email INRSRCH@lehigh.edu 25 Data Driven Innovation: Develop objective neurophysiological biomarkers and closed-loop stimulation to enable precise, personalized rehabilitation that improves health, well-being, and community outcomes.
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