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Boris I. Prilutsky, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

   Center for Human Movement Studies
   School of Applied Physiology
   Email: boris.prilutsky@ap.gatech.edu
   Phone: (404) 894-7659
   Fax: (404) 894-7593

Education

Ph.D., Biology, Latvian Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Riga, former USSR, 1990.
B.S., Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, Moscow Institute of Electronic Engineering, Moscow, former USSR, 1987.
B.S., Physical Education, Central Institute of Physical Culture, Moscow, former USSR, 1978.

Research interests

I am interested in the mechanisms of movement generation and control at different levels of biological organization. My interests have evolved from mechanics and energetics of locomotion, actions of two-joint muscles, and muscle redundancy problems to motor learning, modeling the neural control of locomotion, and the role of the motor cortex in different locomotor behaviors.

Current Research Projects

1. Control of force by the arm during learning of mechanically redundant motor tasks. (Mechanically redundant tasks are tasks that can be performed in a number of different ways, i.e. with different kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation patterns.) This study is aimed at investigating the motor performance and control of patients with spinal cord lesion at C6-C7, stroke patients, Parkinson's disease patients, and age-matched controls in tracking tasks that require visual-motor coordination. Current and prospective collaborators: L. VanHiel , BME, MSPT, Shepherd Spinal Center ; Emory University; Dr. Carlo L. Bottasso, GA Tech and the Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy.
2. Learning to step precisely: biomechanics and motor cortex. The aim of this project is to investigate changes in the mechanics and the motor cortex activity during learning new full-body locomotor behaviors in cats. Collaborators: Dr. I.N. Beloozerova and Dr. M.G. Sirota, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ.
3. Modeling the spinal cord neural circuitry that controls cat locomotion. Collaborators: Dr. I.A. Rybak (Department of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA) and Dr. D.G. Ivashko.
4. Motor output strategies and movement control. The major goals of this project are to quantify the mechanical demands on the cat hindlimbs and the associated muscle actions for tasks of different complexity and to examine the relative contribution of feedback and central motor commands in the selection of muscles during locomotion. Collaborators: Dr. R.J. Gregor (PI) and Dr. T.R. Nichols, Emory University.

Selected Publications

Bottasso C.L., Prilutsky B.I., Croce A., Imberti E., Sartirana S. A numerical procedure for inferring from experimental data the optimization cost functions using a multibody model of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. Multibody System Dynamics 16: 123-154 (2006).

Gregor R.J., Smith D.W., Prilutsky B.I. Mechanics of slope walking in the cat: quantification of muscle load, length change, and ankle extensor EMG patterns. Journal of Neurophysiology 95:1397-1409 (2006).

Prilutsky B.I., Sirota M.G., Gregor R.J., Beloozerova I.N. Quantification of motor cortex activity and full-body biomechanics during unconstrained locomotion. Journal of Neurophysiology 94: 2959-2969 (2005).

Ivashko, D.G., Prilutsky, B. I., Markin, S. N., Chapin, J. K. and Rybak, I. A.. Modeling the spinal cord neural circuitry controlling cat hindlimb movement during locomotion. Neurocomputing 52-54: 621-629 (2003).

Prilutsky, B.I. and Zatsiorsky, V.M. Optimization-based models of muscle coordination. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews 30:32-38 (2002).

Raikova, R.T. and Prilutsky, B.I. Sensitivity of predicted muscle forces to parameters of the optimization-based human leg model revealed by analytical and numerical analyses. J. Biomechanics 34: 1243-1255 (2001).

Gregor, R.J., Smith, J.L., Smith, D.W., Oliver, A. and Prilutsky, B.I. Hindlimb kinetics and neural control during slope walking in the cat: unexpected findings. J. Applied Biomechanics 17: 277-286 (2001).

Prilutsky B.I. Eccentric muscle action in sport and exercise. In Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine. Biomechanics in Sport (Ed. Zatsiorsky V.M.), pp. 56-86. Oxford, UK, Blackwell Science Ltd. (2000).

Prilutsky, B. I. Coordination of two- and one-joint muscles: functional consequences and implications for motor control (target article). Motor Control 4:1-44 (2000).

Prilutsky, B. I. Muscle coordination: the discussion continues. Motor Control 4: 97-116 (2000).

Prilutsky, B. I. and Gregor R. J. Analysis of muscle coordination strategies in cycling. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering 8: 362-370 (2000).

Prilutsky, B. I. and Gregor R. J. Swing- and support-related muscle actions differentially trigger human walk-run and run-walk transitions. Journal of Experimental Biology 204: 2277-2287 (2000).

Prilutsky, B. I., Gregor, R. J., and Ryan, M. M. Coordination of two-joint rectus femoris and hamstrings during the swing phase of human walking and running. Exp Brain Research 120: 479-486 (1998).

Prilutsky, B. I., Isaka, T., Albrecht, A. M., and Gregor, R. J. Coordination of two-joint leg muscles during load lifting J. Biomechanics 31:1025-1034 (1998).

Prilutsky B.I. Work, energy expenditure, and efficiency of the stretch-shortening cycle. J. Appl. Biomechanics 13, 466-471 (1997).

Prilutsky B. I., Herzog W. and Allinger T. L. Forces of individual cat ankle extensor muscles during locomotion predicted using static optimization. J. Biomechanics 30, 1025-1033 (1997).

Prilutsky B.I. and Gregor R.J. Strategy of coordination of two- and one-joint leg muscles in controlling an external force. Motor Control 1, 91-115 (1997).