Dr. Brennan Armshaw’s Laboratory

Description of Work in the Behavior Analysis and Technology for Health Innovations Lab:

Dr. Armshaw’s research focuses largely on the intersection of behavior analysis and medicine to promote health and wellbeing. His current work specifically focuses on methods to improve recovery rates for patients suffering from muscular injuries or following orthopedic surgery. 

For instance, recovery following total knee replacement surgery is influenced by a number of factors, severe muscle atrophy, proprioceptive nerve damage, and a condition known as arthrogenic muscle inhibition. When considered from a recovery standpoint, each of these factors adversely impact the voluntary engagement of particular muscle groups (i.e. my muscle doesn’t work how I want it to). This problem can be addressed behaviorally. Dr. Armshaws lab has developed a series of Smart Apps that communicate with an electromyography device (a tool that measures the natural electrical activity flowing through a muscle when it is contracted) to arrange and provide individualized reinforcement schedules. 

Dr. Armshaw’s research takes a bench-to-bedside approach. Meaning his work cycles through laboratory research with healthy participants to clinical research with patients recovering from muscular injuries. The lab is currently returning to the bench to improve on their current technology, and investigate the relationship between reinforcement and neuromuscular activity.

●      REU students will gain experience with Smart Apps, and Surface Electromyography, and will develop an understanding of operant learning techniques as well as basic physiological dynamics involved in muscular activity.

●      REU students will gain hands-on experience running participants, producing graphs, analyzing data, and leading discussions in weekly lab meetings.   

●    REU students will gain experience translating between the behavioral sciences, psychological phenomena, and physiological processes.

●     REU students can expect to work on one of five projects:

○ The first aims to assess the role of different feedback requirements on individuals production of a maximum muscle contraction

○ The second aims to assess the differential effectiveness of different feedback modalities (auditory, visual, gamification, ect)

○ The third aims to assess a telemedicine training package designed to teach patients and physical therapists how to use the technology we have developed

○ The fourth aims to assess what happens to muscular activity when reinforcement is discontinued

○ The fifth aims to assess the role of shaping at rapidly re-establishing voluntary neuromuscular activity

Subjects/Participants: Human subjects (adults)

Requirements/Restrictions: CITI Training

  Visit Dr. Armshaw's Website to learn more about Brennan and his research.