Induced discomfort promotes executive function while walking with(out) an artificial neuromuscular impairment. 
Manczurowsky J, Cline TL, Hillman CH, and Hasson CJ.
Journal of Neurophysiology, 2024, 132(6), 1823-1836.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00209.2024

This study combines rehabilitation, motor adaptation, and psychology to understand how a complex neuromotor impairment interacts with executive function during locomotion. Novel contributions include our new approach to perturbing locomotion with an artificial impairment and investigating “hot” or emotional executive function in addition to the more commonly studies “cold” or logical locomotion. Interestingly, we found that it wasn’t the artificial impairment that impacted executive function per se, but the associated discomfort. Moreover, rather than impairing executive function, discomfort had a faciliatory effect.

[Editorial commentary on Manczurowsky et al. (2024)]
Outside one’s comfort zone: Interactions between motor adaptation and executive functions.
Budde, H. and Gronwald, T.
Journal of Neurophysiology, 2025, 133, 121–123.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00558.2024

This commentary highlights the impact of our study, the new avenues for research it introduces, and the unresolved questions it raises.

Effects of increasing walking cadence on gait biomechanics in adults with knee osteoarthritis.
James KA, Corrigan P, Yen S-C, Hasson CJ, Davis IS, and Stefanik JJ.
Journal of Biomechanics, 2024, 177, 112394.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112394

This paper explores an interesting idea: can you reduce knee loads if you simply take shorter steps? Well, the results show that it’s not so simple.

Neurorehabilitation robotics: how much control should therapists have?
Hasson CJ, Manczurowsky J, Collins EC, and Yarossi M.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2023, 17, 1179418.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2023.1179418

In this perspective paper, we discuss the future of neurorehabilitation robotics, focusing on how physical therapists interreact with robotic systems. Should we give the robotics full control, so therapy is driven solely by algorithms and AI?

Visual programming for accessible interactive musculoskeletal models. 
Manczurowsky J, Badadhe M, and Hasson CJ.
BMC Research Notes, 2022, 15(1), 108.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-022-05994-5

This paper showcases freely-available software that includes a computer model of an arm that can be controlled with a keyboard, or for a more interesting experience, with a person’s muscle activity using low-cost sensors. The model is programmed entirely in a visual programming language, making it easier for non-experts to understand how the model works.

Recurrence quantification analysis of ankle kinematics during gait in individuals with chronic ankle instability. 
Yen SC, Qian S, Folmar E, Hasson, CJ, and Chou CA.
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2022, 4, 893745.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.893745

Here, we try to understand if individuals with chronic ankle instability, exhibit certain signatures in the way they walk. We show that a measure that, somewhat abstractly, quantifies how frequently a person’s neural control strategy switches, may have some predictive power in identifying people with chronic ankle instability.

Exploiting telerobotics for sensorimotor rehabilitation: a locomotor embodiment.
Koh MH, Yen SC, Leung LY, Gans S, Sullivan K, Adibnia,Y, Pavel M, and Hasson, CJ.
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2021, 18, 1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00856-w

In this work, we introduce a novel approach that uses telerobotics for locomotor rehabilitation. We had human trainers provide physical assistance to people who have previously had a stroke using a remotely controlled robotic system.

Learning to shape virtual patient locomotor patterns: internal representations adapt to exploit interactive dynamics.
Hasson CJ and Goodman SE.
Journal of Neurophysiology, 2019, 121(1), 321-335.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00408.2018

Why use humans when you can use a model? Because you can do impossible things like instantly change the physics of an interaction. Here we introduce a novel approach, where we had people physically interact with a model of someone walking – and to try and change the model’s gait. We learned that the participants learned how to use the pendular dynamics of the swinging leg to their advantage, making it easier to alter the model’s walking pattern compared to a “brute force” approach. A delicate touch wins in the end.