Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection

ScienceMatters Season 3 Episode 6: Lewis Wheaton's research into the brain and traumatic injuries

October 22, 2019

Despite advances in understanding the human body and the design of artificial limbs, one thing hasn’t changed: Those who suffer the loss of a limb must still adapt.

Lewis Wheaton, associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, wants to know more about how people adjust to major changes in their motor skills. If he learns more about the mind-body connection, he could make it easier to adapt and maybe make better artificial limbs along the way.

Wheaton's work with his research team in the Cognitive Motor Control Lab, which he directs, is the subject of ScienceMatters Season 3, Episode 6.

Whether loss of limb is due to traumatic injuries or strokes, Wheaton aims to better understand the neurological processes involved in adapting to loss of motor ability, so that people who have lost limbs can win back their independence.

He’s also learning more about what happens in our brains when we intend to do something and what happens when we act on those intentions.

Each ScienceMatters episode includes a quiz that refers to facts mentioned in each podcast. A winner will be chosen randomly from all who submit correct answers. Winners will receive special College of Sciences gifts.

The Episode 6 quiz question:

What is the type of brain injury when a person knows how to perform a task but can’t do it?

The winner will be announced in the following week.

Submit your answer here: https://forms.cos.gatech.edu/sciencematters-season-3-episode-6-quiz

ScienceMatters podcasts are available for subscription at Apple Podcasts and Soundcloud.