Nupur Hajela

Northwestern University

Papers

2

Total Citations

51

H-Index

2

About

Nupur Hajela’s research lies at the intersection of neural plasticity, motor control, and rehabilitation engineering, with a focus on restoring movement after spinal cord injury. Her work has illuminated how the central nervous system reorganizes in response to locomotor training, demonstrating that activity-dependent plasticity occurs simultaneously across multiple neural sites. In a landmark 2012 study, she established that subthreshold transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex, combined with robotic-assisted stepping, can drive corticospinal reorganization in individuals with motor incomplete paraplegia—offering a mechanistic foundation for targeted rehabilitation. Her 2011 investigation further revealed that the soleus H-reflex undergoes phase-dependent modulation during stepping within a robotic exoskeleton, preserving a key feature of spinal reflex control even when movement is externally guided. These contributions, cited over 50 times collectively, have helped bridge basic neurophysiology and clinical application, informing the design of neurorehabilitation protocols that leverage the brain’s inherent plasticity. Hajela’s work remains a touchstone for researchers exploring how robotic and neuromodulatory interventions can retrain the injured nervous system.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

2
H-Index
2
Papers
51
Total Citations
26
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Soleus H-reflex phase-dependent modulation is preserved during stepping within a robotic exoskeleton
28 citations · 2011
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2011 (1 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 4
🏛 Institutions: Northwestern University

Top Papers

  1. 1
  2. 2

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 14 days ago