How neurologically healthy and impaired humans learn new movements
Richard Ivry, Professor
Psychology
Applications for Spring 2025 are closed for this project.
Research in our laboratory addresses how people learn new motor skills. We study this topic using behavioral and computational methods with healthy and neurologically impaired humans. The neurological studies examine the contribution of different brain structures, especially the cerebellum and basal ganglia, in motor learning to develop functional hypotheses regarding the coordination problems faced by patients with disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Current research projects include: 1) How do we learn from movement errors? 2) How do we learn rewarding actions? 3) What is the role of the cerebellum and basal ganglia in these processes?
Role: Duties: We are looking for a research assistant with various skills. Basic responsibilities will include conducting experiments with college students and examining various aspects of human performance. These experiments will serve as pilot studies for research with neurological patients. The apprentice may also be involved in experiments with healthy adults and clinical populations, which will include behavioral experiments as well as neuropsychological evaluations. The apprentice will be working in the lab between 8-10 hours per week. Of that time, approximately 75% would be devoted to coordinating the testing sessions. The rest of the time will be devoted to organizing and analyzing the data and participating in discussions related to interpreting results and planning subsequent studies. The experimental work and data analysis will require proficiency with computers and various software packages (Python/R/Matlab). The apprentice will be required to maintain a regular reading program. S/he will also be expected to attend weekly lab meetings at which we will discuss papers and the results of ongoing experiments. At the end of the term, the apprentice will complete a final report as described in the URAP contract and an 8-10 page term paper if the URAP program is completed for credit.
Qualifications: Qualifications: Intended major in Computer Science, Data Science, Cognitive Science, Psychology, or Biology (MCB or IB). Minimum of an introductory course in their fields. Coding and computational skills are not required but are highly appreciated.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Sabrina Abram, Post-Doc
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: http://ivrylab.berkeley.edu
Biological & Health Sciences Education, Cognition & Psychology