Molly Listenberger

Northwestern University, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Papers

Total Citations

194

H-Index

About

Molly Listenberger is a leading researcher in neurorehabilitation, specializing in the use of robotic and virtual reality technologies to restore motor function after stroke. Her work centers on the innovative concept of **error augmentation**—a technique that deliberately amplifies movement errors during therapy to drive neuroplasticity and improve motor learning. In her seminal 2013 study, "Error Augmentation Enhancing Arm Recovery in Individuals With Chronic Stroke," which has garnered **148 citations**, Listenberger demonstrated that combining visual display distortions with robotic forces can significantly enhance arm recovery in chronic stroke survivors. Her 2011 follow-up, cited **38 times**, further validated this approach by integrating patient, therapist, and machine in a massed practice paradigm. Listenberger’s contributions extend to developing software frameworks that seamlessly integrate haptic and graphic feedback into rehabilitation robots, as seen in her 2011 work on virtual environment libraries. By pioneering error augmentation as a therapeutic tool, she has opened new avenues for recovery in patients who were previously considered beyond the reach of conventional therapy, making her a transformative figure in stroke rehabilitation research.