Scientists Develop New Method to Detect Motor Disorders Using 3D Objects
Researchers at HSE University have developed a new methodological approach to studying motor planning and execution. By using 3D-printed objects and an infrared tracking system, they demonstrated that the brain initiates the planning process even before movement begins. This approach may eventually aid in the assessment and treatment of patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. The paper has been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
When a person picks up a cup or fastens a button, the brain plans the movement in advance—a process known as motor planning. This is especially important for complex actions, such as when an object must not only be lifted but also rotated. In patients with stroke or Parkinson’s disease, this mechanism is often impaired, making it essential to understand its structure for effective rehabilitation.
In earlier studies, researchers relied on reactions to visual stimuli, EEG, or MRI to investigate motor planning. However, these methods could not precisely distinguish between the planning phase and the execution of movement. Moreover, most experiments involved familiar objects, making it difficult to rule out the influence of habits and prior associations.
Scientists at the HSE Centre for Cognition and Decision Making have developed a new methodological framework for studying motor planning in the brain. In the experiment, 21 participants performed a series of tasks involving the grasping and placement of 3D-printed objects. Each of the four objects was an abstract geometric shape, unrelated to everyday items, thereby eliminating the influence of habit. The task required participants to grasp an object, rotate it if necessary, and place it precisely onto a corresponding cardboard plate.
In the experiment, four rotation angles were tested: 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. High-precision motion tracking was carried out using infrared cameras. Each movement was segmented into phases, from the moment the occlusion glasses opened to the completion of object placement. This approach enabled the researchers to examine in detail how motion parameters change as task complexity increases.
The study found that rotation had a significant impact on motion planning: movements involving rotation had longer initiation times, larger grasp apertures, and longer wrist trajectories compared to non-rotated movements. Symmetrical 180° rotations were executed faster than asymmetrical 90° and 270° rotations. These results indicate that not only task complexity but also movement geometry influences planning. Thus, motor planning is not merely a simple response to a stimulus but a distinct movement phase shaped by the demands of the task.
Matteo Feurra
The developed methodological framework may prove valuable not only for basic research but also for clinical practice. Clearly separating the planning and execution phases can lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective rehabilitation for patients with motor disorders after stroke or other neurological conditions. 'The infrared motion tracking system fits into a portable case and can be used in clinics, sports science, or field research. Most importantly, it enables the detection of subtle delays in motor planning, which may serve as early indicators of neurological disorders,' explains Matteo Feurra, Leading Research Fellow at the HSE Centre for Cognition and Decision Making and one of the authors of the study.
The study was carried out within the framework of the HSE Basic Research Programme.
See also:
HSE Researchers Make Aldehydes Perform Dual Function
Chemists from HSE University have discovered a way to carry out a reductive addition reaction without using an external reducing agent. Instead, the required 'resource' is supplied by the aldehyde itself, one of the reaction participants. This approach helps prevent unwanted side reactions, reduces toxicity, and simplifies the production and synthesis of organic molecules, including those used in the manufacture of medicines. The study has been published in Journal of Catalysis.
HSE Scientists Explain Why Findings in Autism Research Differ
Researchers from the Cognitive Health and Intelligence Centre at HSE University conducted the first-ever systematic review of studies on the specifics of emotion-from-motion perception in autism. The review showed that differences found between autistic and non-autistic individuals are largely associated with the experimental design and the types of tasks given to study participants. The review findings have been published in Research in Autism.
Tremors: Scientists Develop Method for Real-Time Tracking of Hazardous Underground Vibrations
Researchers from HSE MIEM and IPKON RAS have developed a new mathematical monitoring model that can identify the source of hazardous underground vibrations in real time. The technology could help reduce the risk of damage to buildings, roads, and other infrastructure located near quarries and mining sites. The paper has been published in Russian Mining Industry.
HSE Researchers Determine Which Internet Users Are More Likely to Fact-Check
Researchers at HSE University examined the strategies employed by Russian internet users to verify unreliable information and the factors that motivate them to do so. The study found that more than half of users who encounter potentially false information online attempt to verify it by locating the original source. The likelihood of fact-checking is influenced by several factors, including age, place of residence, social status, information literacy skills, and the use of AI. The findings have been published in Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes.
Tabular Data Anonymisation Solution for Safe Use in AI Systems Developed at HSE University
The AI and Digital Science Institute at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science has developed a tabular data anonymisation service designed to prepare corporate datasets for use in analytics and AI applications. The solution can identify personal data in structured datasets, apply consistent and reproducible anonymisation rules, and generate the artifacts required for quality control, auditing, and subsequent use of data in secure environments.
Population Lifespan Is Governed by Mathematical Laws
Researchers at HSE University and MSU have established a universal law governing the time to extinction of a population in a random environment. Their analysis of the evolution of branching processes—complex probabilistic systems—shows that, regardless of the initial population size, extinction follows strict mathematical laws. The results have been published in the Journal of Applied Probability.
Sociologists: Conservative Consumers Dominate Russian Middle Class
The Russian middle class cannot be regarded as a homogeneous and uniformly stable social group. Similar income levels often mask significant differences in financial strategies, lifestyles, and levels of economic security. This is the conclusion reached by sociologists at HSE University. The study has been published in Voprosy Ekonomiki.
Neurolinguists Assist in Awake Surgery on 11-Year-Old Patient with Epilepsy
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain took part in a rare awake neurosurgical procedure performed on an 11-year-old patient with drug-resistant epilepsy. Working alongside surgeons at the Voyno-Yasenetsky Centre of Specialised Medical Care for Children in Solntsevo, they monitored the resection of a portion of the left temporal lobe, where the epileptic focus had been identified.
Scientists Explain How Emotions Shape Attitudes Toward Digital Governance
Today, interactions between citizens and government increasingly take place through digital governance platforms, including digital public services, AI-powered systems, and algorithmic decision-making tools. Until now, however, these technologies have largely been viewed as technical instruments, with their effectiveness assessed primarily in terms of efficiency and user-friendliness. The authors of a new study propose a broader perspective, arguing that digital governance should also be understood as an emotional experience that directly shapes citizens' trust in public institutions.
Neural Network Maps as a Method for Constructing Mathematical Models
Scientists from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod and the Institute of Physics Belgrade, Serbia, are jointly exploring the application of machine learning techniques and neural networks to the study of nonlinear dynamics. Natalya Stankevich, Leading Research Fellow at the Laboratory of Topological Methods in Dynamics of the Faculty of Informatics, Mathematics, and Computer Science at HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod, spoke to the HSE News Service about this international project.