Jacob G. McPherson
Papers
5
Total Citations
122
H-Index
4
About
Jacob G. McPherson is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation engineering, specializing in the quantification and treatment of upper limb motor impairments following brain injury. His work centers on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying abnormal muscle coactivation patterns, particularly the flexion synergy, in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke. McPherson’s major contributions include demonstrating how neuromodulatory inputs to motoneurons contribute to the loss of independent joint control, and establishing a direct link between flexion synergy expression and spastic stretch reflexes at the elbow. His most cited paper (2017, 41 citations) reveals how shoulder abductor activity involuntarily drives elbow, wrist, and finger flexor activation, providing a mechanistic explanation for post-stroke movement dysfunction. McPherson also developed the ACT-4D, a novel rehabilitation robot (2011, 21 citations) that objectively quantifies arm impairments during functional movement, enabling precise, impairment-based assessment. His work bridges basic neuroscience and clinical application, offering new targets for robot-assisted therapy and advancing the design of neurorehabilitation technologies. With over 120 total citations, McPherson’s research is foundational for engineers and clinicians seeking to restore independent joint control after brain injury.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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