Alberts, Jay, Ph.D.

Research Statement

The aim of my research is to understand structure-function relationships within the central nervous system and the upper extremity. My research focuses on determining how grasping forces and torques are controlled and coordinated during functional dexterous manipulations. Investigation of movement patterns produced by different patient groups and healthy adults provides a window into the brain with respect to the control of voluntary movement.

We work with Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to determine the role of the basal ganglia in movement control. Recently, we have shown that unilateral deep brain stimulation provides long-term bilateral motor benefits. We are also comparing the effects of assisted vs. voluntary exercise on PD motor function.

These studies suggest that central motor control processing may be improved by "assisted exercise" (e.g., a patient's "passive" leg movements being generated by the pedaling of a healthy partnering cyclist on a tandem bicycle). Studies comparing motor performance in old vs. young adults reveal the effects of normal aging on motor function. We have shown that older adults have specific impairments in the release of grasping forces, which may contribute to diminished hand function. Overall, these data provide insight into mechanisms underlying upper-extremity motor function. These investigations have the potential to improve clinical practice through better methods of motor assessment.

The objective, quantitative assessment of motor function will aid in disease diagnostic capability and specificity, slowing of disease progression and intervention efficacy for patients in which movement is compromised.

Professional Affiliations

Investigator, Cleveland FES Center
Assistant Staff, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Neurological Restoration, and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Associate Professor, Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Biomedical Engineer, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center,
Cleveland, OH

Publications (select)

Frankenmolle AM, Wu J, Noecker AM, Voelcker-Rehage C, Ho JC, Vitek JL, McIntyre CC, Alberts JL. Reversing cognitive-motor impairments in Parkinson's disease patients using a computational modeling approach to deep brain stimulation programming. Brain. 2010 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID:20061324.
Kutner NG, Zhang R, Butler AJ, Wolf SL, Alberts JL. Quality-of-life change associated with robotic-assisted therapy to improve hand motor function in patients with subacute stroke: A randomized clinical trial. Phys Ther. 2010 Feb 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID:20185616.
McIntyre CC, Frankenmolle AM, Wu J, Noecker AM, Alberts JL. Customizing deep brain stimulation to the patient using computational models. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2009;2009:4228-9. PubMed PMID:19965023.
Alberts JL, Wolf SL. The use of kinetics as a marker for manual dexterity after stroke and stroke recovery. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2009 Jul-Aug:16(4):223-36. Review. PubMed PMID:19740729.
Stewart KC, Fernandez HH, Okun MS, Alberts JL, Malaty IA, Rodriguez RL, Hass CJ. Effects of dopaminergic medication on objective tasks of deftness, bradykinesia and force control. J Neurol. 2009 Jul12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID:19597692.
Ridgel AL, Vitek JL, Alberts JL. Forced, not voluntary, exercise improves motor function in Parkinson's disease patients. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2009 Jul-Aug;23(6):600-8. Epub 2009 Jan 8. PubMed PMID:19131578.
Mera TO, Johnson MD, Rothe D, Zhang J, Xu W, Ghosh D, Vitek J, Alberts JL. Objective quantification of arm rigidity in MPTP-treated primates. J Neurosci Methods. 2009 Feb 15;177(1):20-9. Epub 2008 Sep 26. PubMed PMID:18930079; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2632780.

Research Programs

Deep Brain Stimulation and Motor Function in Parkinson’s Patients

Contact Information