Kristen A. Pickett
Papers
2
Total Citations
37
H-Index
2
About
Kristen A. Pickett’s research lies at the intersection of sensorimotor control, haptic perception, and neurodegenerative disease, with a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD). Her work investigates how dopamine replacement therapy alters the way individuals with PD sense and interact with their environment through touch and movement. In her most cited paper, “The effect of dopamine replacement therapy on haptic sensitivity in Parkinson’s disease” (2010, 32 citations), Pickett demonstrated that dopaminergic medication can significantly affect haptic—or touch-based—perception, challenging assumptions about sensory deficits being purely motor in origin. She extended this line of inquiry in a 2017 study examining joint kinematics during haptic exploration, revealing how medication alters the angular motion of joints when the hand is passively guided along a curved contour. These contributions are vital for understanding the subtle sensory-motor disruptions in PD and for designing more targeted rehabilitation strategies. While her citation counts reflect a growing, specialized impact, Pickett’s work is notable for bridging robotics, neuroscience, and clinical practice—offering a nuanced view of how dopamine shapes not just movement, but the very feel of the world.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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