Neurorehabilitation is essential for patients with neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease

Effective neurorehabilitation interventions which are patient-oriented can improve recovery after stroke and reduce neurodegeneration in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

In the Memory Lab, we explore novel ways to administer neurorehabilitation interventions. Our research projects include the use of high-intensity cardiovascular exercise and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to improve or maintain cognitive well-being, cardiovascular health and functional mobility.

OUR RESEARCH ON NEUROREHABILITATION

Exercise, brain plasticity and dopamine in Parkinson’s disease

This project investigates whether, timely combined, the administration of dopaminergic drug and exercise can improve…

Genotype and the response to exercise in sub-acute stroke

This project studies whether the genotype modulates the individual response to exercise on brain plasticity…

High-intensity interval training for stroke patients

This project explores the role of exercise intensity on brain plasticity, cardiovascular health and motor…

Implementing Sleep Research in Rehabilitation Care: Barriers and Facilitators to Evidence-Based Practice

This project explores how physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and neuropsychologists address sleep in their work, and…

Protecting the Brain from Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment and Dementia with Multimodal Exercise Training: The PROTECT Trial

This project explores whether combining different forms of exercise, such as aerobic and strength training,…

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FUNDING SUPPORT

NON-INVASIVE BRAIN STIMULATION

We use transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure the excitability and modulate the activity of different regions of the brain that are involved in various aspects of cognition.

NEURONAVIGATION

We use neuronavigation to visualize the brain in vivo and improve the accuracy and repeatability of our brain stimulation and neuroimaging protocols.

NEUROIMAGING

We use electroencephalography to assess changes in the activity of different areas of the brain at rest, during sleep and during different motor and cognitive tasks. We use electroencephalography to assess changes in the activity of different areas of the brain at rest, during sleep and during different motor and cognitive tasks. We use magnetic resonance imaging to see how the structure of the brain changes after exercise, and to see if there are any new connections between areas of the brain.

CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS

We use exercise tests to assess the physiological response to exercise of our patients and participants. During these tests we measure cardiac activity, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, and biomarkers.

MOTOR BEHAVIOuR

We use different motor learning paradigms, including serial reaction time, visuomotor-tracking and ballistic tasks involving both upper and lower limb, to study the capacity to learn and retain motor skills.

BLOOD BIOMARKERS

We measure the concentration of proteins such as Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which are related to brain plasticity processes required for motor recovery.

GENOTYPING

We use genotyping to investigate how genetic variation influences recovery following brain injury and shapes individual responses to rehabilitation strategies, including cardiovascular exercise.