Research on Advanced Imaging Techniques Aims to Improve Nerve Function Treatments

Losing feeling in your hands can make everyday activities like cooking, driving or texting a struggle. Procedures that use electricity to substitute for or help regain nerve function can help, but over time, these treatments lose effectiveness as the brain adjusts to artificial stimulation, a process known as habituation. A team of researchers, led by an engineer from Penn State, is using advanced imaging techniques to better understand the mechanics behind habituation, pinpointing optimized treatment settings that could eventually help address the problem in patients who have had strokes or amputations.