People

Ed Hodkin

  • PhD Student

Research

The human body sends electrical signals from the brain to activate muscles to allow us to make movements. A spinal cord injury (SCI) or stroke might disrupt these signals and prevent muscles from functioning correctly. I am researching novel approaches to neurorehabilitation to recover function following neurological injury.

There is increasing evidence that appropriately-timed electrical stimulation to the nerves activating muscles can strengthen damaged pathways. I have developed a device that applies electrical stimulation using electrodes placed on the surface of the skin to activate impaired muscles to allow the user to perform reach-to-grasp movements in synchrony with their volititonal brain activity.

The device allows repeated practice with minimal input by a therapist, and is potentially suitable for home use. This ability to provide a high dose of rehabilitation is increasingly seen as critical for positive rehabilitative outcomes.

Funding

Wellcome Trust Postgraduate Research Studentship

Publications

Hodkin EF, Lei Y, Humby J, Glover IS, Choudhury S, Kumar H, Perez MA, Rodgers H, Jackson A. Automated FES for Upper Limb Rehabilitation Following Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering 2018, DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2018.2816238