HUNTER SCHONE PhD

Neuroscientist

I study how the brain controls the body—and to what degree sensorimotor circuits can reorganize after injury or motor learning—to develop (neuro)technologies that can plug into preserved motor circuits to restore movement for people with severe motor disabilities.

I'm currently a postdoctoral research fellow supervised by Jennifer Collinger within Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at the University of Pittsburgh. I'll be applying for faculty positions during the fall of 2026.

Previous labs:

Chris Baker, National Institutes of Health

Tamar Makin, University of Cambridge

Resume

Google Scholar

Github

schonehunter [at] gmail [dot] com
Currently living in Pittsburgh, PA, USA

PROJECTS

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN'S BODY MAP WHEN A BODY-PART IS AMPUTATED?

This study is the first to ever investigate how the cortical body map changes before and after amputation. Using functional MRI, we scanned patients before and up to 5 years after undergoing an arm amputation. We discovered the brain's body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation.
[data + code] [doi] [pdf]

NATURAL AND UNNATURAL BIONIC LIMB CONTROL STRATEGIES

Should bionic limb control mimic the human body? In this study, we trained 60 users to operate a muscle-controlled supernumerary robotic arm over a week with multiple pre-post motor and neural (fMRI) measures. Control strategies either mimicked natural limb control or were entirely arbitrary. We show the unique advantages of non-biomimetic (arbitrary) control strategies for prosthetic limbs.

[data + code] [doi] [pdf] [interview]

DEVELOPING INTRACORTICAL BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACES

As a postdoc on the Cortical Bionics research team, I'm working to develop next-generation brain-computer interface technologies to restore lost sensorimotor function. Towards this long-term vision, I've made steady efforts on multiple fronts:

Mapping the structure of the precentral gyrus [doi]
Developing pre-implant targeting strategies for guiding placement of intracortical BCIs [paper1] [paper2]
Using neuroimaging to guide placement of the Stentrode, neuroendovascular brain-computer interface [doi]

NEURAL HAND AND TOOL REPRESENTATIONS IN EXPERT TOOL USERS

In this fMRI study, we scanned a group of expert tool users (London Litterpickers) and a group of novices to see whether longterm experience using a tool like a hand might lead to the brain adapting to represent it more like a biological hand, a concept known as technological embodiment.

[data + stimuli] [doi] [pdf] [interview]

PHANTOM LIMB PAIN

The majority of amputees experience phantom limb pain (PLP) yet we still know very little about the condition. The goal of this review is to help generate consensus in the field on how best to research PLP, from phenomenology to treatment. Written with some of the leading researchers in the field.

[doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

COGNITION OF LIMBLESS INDIVIDUALS

Are individuals born without hands impaired in their ability to judge whether a hand image is a left or right hand? In this study, we test the role of motor hand experience when making visual bodily judgements.

[data + stimuli] [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

Screen Shot 2022-11-18 at 4.46.50 PM (2).png

PROSTHETIC LIMB MOTOR CONTROL

Brain plasticity research teaches us that the earlier we train to acquire new skills (or use a new technology) the better we benefit from this practice as adults. We studied individuals born without a hand and individuals who lost a hand in life to better understand the role early hand experience plays in shaping prosthetic limb motor control in adulthood.

[data] [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Schone, H.R., Yoo, P., Fry, A., Chetty, N., Sawyer, A., Herbers, C., Liu, F., Moon, C.H., Hill, K., Majidi, S., Harel, N.Y., Nogueira, R.G., Levy, E., Putrino, D.F., Lacoms, D., Oxley, T.J., Weber, D.J. and Collinger, J.L. (2025). Motor cortex coverage predicts signal strength of a Stentrode endovascular brain-computer interface. medRxiv, doi: 10.1101/2025.09.19.25335875 [doi] [pdf]

Schone, H.R., Maimon Mor, R.O., Kollamkulam, M., Szymanska, M.A., Gerrand, C., Woolard, A., Kang, N., Baker, C.I., and Makin, T.R. (2025). Stable cortical body maps before and after arm amputation. Nature Neuroscience, doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-02037-7 [doi] [pdf]

Kunigk, N.G., Schone, H.R., Gontier, C., Hockeimer, W., Tortolani, A.F., Hatsopoulos, H.G., Downey, J.E., Chase, S.M., Boninger, M.I., Dekleva, B.D., Collinger, J.L. (2024). Motor somatotopy impacts imagery strategy success in human intracortical brain-computer interfaces. Journal of Neural Engineering, doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/adb995 [doi] [pdf]

Ikegaya, N., Mallela, A.N., Warnke, P.C., Kunigk, N.G., Liu, F., Schone, H.R., Verbaarschot, C., Hatsopoulos, H.G., Downey, J.E., Boninger, M.I., Gaunt, R.A., Collinger, J.L., Gonzalez-Martinez, J. (2024). A novel robot-assisted method for implanting intracortical sensorimotor devices for brain computer interface studies: principles, surgical techniques, and challenges. Journal of Neurosurgery, doi: 10.3171/2024.7.JNS241296 [doi] [pdf]

Downey, J.E., Schone, H.R., Foldes, S.T., Greenspon, C., Liu, F., Verbaarschot, C., Biro, D., Satzer, D., Moon, C., Coffman, B., Youssofzadeh, Y., Fields, D., Hobbs, T.G., Okorokova, E., Tyler-Kabara, E.C., Warnke, P.C., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Hatsopoulos, H.G., Bensmaia, S.J., Boninger, M.I., Gaunt, R.A., Collinger, J.L. (2024). A roadmap for implanting microelectrode arrays to evoke tactile sensations through intracortical microstimulation. Human Brain Mapping, doi: 10.1002/hbm.70118 [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

Schone, H.R., Udeozor, M, Moninghoff, M., Rispoli, B., Vandersea, J., Lock, B., Hargrove, L., Makin, T.R. and Baker, C.I (2024). Biomimetic versus arbitrary motor control strategies on bonic hand skill learning. Nature Human Behaviour, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01811-6. [data + code] [doi] [pdf] [twittter-thread] [interview]

Schone, H.R., Baker, C.I, Katz, J., Nikolajsen, L., Limakatso, K., Flor, H. and Makin, T.R. (2022). Making sense of phantom limb pain. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 93:833-843. [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

Schone, H.R.,* Maimon-Mor, R.O.,* Baker, C.I., and Makin, T.R. (2021). Expert tool users show increased differentiation between visual representations of hands and tools. Journal of Neuroscience, 41 (13) 2980-2989. [data + stimuli] [doi] [pdf] [interview] [twitter-thread]

Maimon-Mor, R.O., Schone, H.R., Henderson-Slater, D., Faisal, A. and Makin, T.R. (2021). Early life experience sets hard limits on motor learning as evidenced from artificial arm use, eLife, 10: e66320. [data] [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

Maimon-Mor, R. O., Schone, H. R., Moran, R., Brugger, P. and Makin, T. R. (2020). Motor control drives visual bodily judgements. Cognition, 196, 104120. [data + stimuli] [doi] [pdf] [twitter-thread]

PRESENTATIONS

Schone, H.R (2025). Harnessing preserved sensorimotor representations for human-machine interfaces. Humanitas University, Milan, Italy (invited talk).

Schone, H.R (2025). Stable cortical body maps before and after amputation. International MotoNeuron Society, Motor Unit Group Seminar Series (invited talk).

Schone, H.R (2025). Mapping the pre-central gyrus for guiding placement of brain-computer interfaces. BCI Society Meeting, Banff, Canada (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R (2025). Technological embodiment: transitioning phantoms to bionics. DeLuca Virtual Symposium, ISEK (oral presentation). [video]

Schone, H.R, Yoo, P., Herbers, C., Liu, F., Hong Moon, Chan., Putrino, D.F., Maijdi, S., Harel, N.Y., Lacomis, D., Nogueira, R.G., Levy, E., Oxely, T.J., Weber D.J. and Collinger, J. (2024). Neuroimaging predictors of Stentrode endovascular signal quality. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, USA (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R (2024). Neurocognitive considerations for engineering bionic limbs. Cognitive Science Society, Rotterdam, Netherlands (invited talk).

Schone, H.R (2024). Harnessing preserved sensorimotor representations for human-machine interfaces. ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (invited talk).

Schone, H.R (2024). Making sense of phantom limb pain. Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anesthetists, London, UK (invited talk).

Downey, J.E., Schone, H.R., Foldes, S.T., Greenspon, C., Liu, F., Verbaarschot, C., Biro, D., Satzer, D., Moon, C., Coffman, B., Youssofzadeh, Y., Fields, D., Hobbs, T.G., Okorokova, E., Tyler-Kabara, E.C., Warnke, P.C., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Hatsopoulos, H.G., Bensmaia, S.J., Boninger, M.I., Gaunt, R.A., Collinger, J.L. (2024). A roadmap for implanting microelectrode arrays to evoke tactile sensations through intracortical microstimulation. BRAIN Initiative Conference, Rockville, MD, USA (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R (2024). Neurocognitive considerations for engineering bionic limbs. Johns Hopkins University, Translational Neuroengineering Technologies (TNT) Seminar Series, Baltimore, MD, USA (invited talk).

Schone, H.R, Makin, T.R. and Baker, C.I. (2024). Decoding action and observation of hand gestures in the human brain. Neural Control of Movement, Dubrovnik, Croatia (poster presentation).

Downey, J.E., Schone, H.R., Foldes, S.T., Greenspon, C., Liu, F., Verbaarschot, C., Biro, D., Satzer, D., Moon, C., Coffman, B., Youssofzadeh, Y., Fields, D., Hobbs, T.G., Okorokova, E., Tyler-Kabara, E.C., Warnke, P.C., Gonzalez-Martinez, J., Hatsopoulos, H.G., Bensmaia, S.J., Boninger, M.I., Gaunt, R.A., Collinger, J.L. (2024). Using multimodal neuroimaging to guide brain-computer interface implantation. Neural Control of Movement, Dubrovnik, Croatia (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R (2024). Cortical reorganization: fact or fiction? University of Toronto, Human Pain Seminar Series. Toronto, CA (oral presentation)

Schone, H.R (2024). Neurocognitive Considerations for Engineering Bionic Bodies. Marlene Behrmann lab, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (oral presentation)

Schone, H.R., Kollamkulam, M., Gerrand, C., Sedki, I., Maimon-Mor, R. O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2023). Decoding a phantom hand: A pre- and post-amputation fMRI study. University of Cambridge, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R (2023). Does the cortical hand representation change following amputation? A pre- and post amputation fMRI study. UCL-NIMH Joint Symposium, London, UK, USA (oral presentation)

Schone, H.R., Udeozor, M., Moninghoff, M., Rispoli, B., Vandersea, J., Lock, B., Hargrove, L., Makin, T.R. and Baker, C.I. (2023) Should bionic limb control mimic the human body? Impact of control strategy on bionic hand skill learning. Brain Computer Interface Meeting, Brussels, Belgium (poster presentation)

Schone, H.R., Makin, T.R., and Baker, C.I. (2023). Human See, Human Do: comparing motor and visual representations of hand gestures. Vision Sciences Society, Florida, USA (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R., Kollamkulam, M., Gerrand, C., Sedki, I., Maimon-Mor, R. O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2023). How does the cortical hand representation change following amputation? A pre- and post-amputation fMRI study. Neural Control of Movement, Victoria, Canada (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R., Kollamkulam, M., Gerrand, C., Sedki, I., Maimon-Mor, R. O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2022). How does the cortical hand representation change following amputation? A pre- and post-amputation fMRI study. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, Califorrnia, USA (oral presentation).
*Organized and chaired the SfN Nanosymposium where this work was presented

Schone, H.R., Udeozor, M., Moninghoff, M., Rispoli, B., Vandersea, J., Lock, B., Hargrove, L., Makin, T.R. and Baker, C.I. (2022) Is the human body the best model for controlling artificial limbs? Comparing biomimetic and arbitrary control strategies. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, California, USA (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R., Edwards, G., Japee, S., Makin, T.R., and Baker, C.I. (2022) Decoding action and observation of biological and robotic hand gestures. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, California, USA (poster presentation)

Schone, H.R., Udeozor, M., Moninghoff, M., Rispoli, B., Vandersea, J., Lock, B., Hargrove, L., Edwards, G.E., Japee, S.J., Makin, T.R. and Baker, C.I. (2022) Is the human body the best model for controlling artificial limbs? Comparing biomimetic and arbitrary control strategies. Neural Control of Movement, Dublin, Ireland (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R. (2022). Is the human body the ultimate design template for engineering robotic limbs? Brain Seminar. Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, London, UK. [twitter-thread] (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R. (2021). Is the human body the ultimate design template for artificial limbs? EMBC Conference workshop: From machine-brain interfaces (MBI) to neurorobotics: challenges and opportunities. https://neuroeng.org/workshop-embc2021 (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O., Baker, C.I., and Makin, T.R. (2020). Expert tool users do not visually embody their hand-held tool, Vision Sciences Society, St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R., Gerrand, C., Sedki, I., Maimon-Mor, R. O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2020). Preserved somatotopic organisation following hand amputation, British Sarcoma Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, UK (poster presentation).

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O., Baker, C.I., and Makin, T.R.. (2020). Expert tool users do not visually embody their hand-held tool, Capital Area Cognition, Attention and Perception Conference, Washington, D.C. (oral presentation).

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2019). Investigating the neural embodiment of prosthetic limbs and tools. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, Illinois, USA (poster presentation)

Schone, H.R, Maimon-Mor, R.O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2019). Assessing prosthesis embodiment in elite prosthesis users. UCL-NIMH Joint Symposium, Bethesda, MD, USA (oral & poster presentation)

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O., Baker, C.I. and Makin, T.R. (2019). Assessing the neurocognitive characteristics of elite prosthesis users. Trent International Prosthetics Symposium, Manchester, UK (poster presentation)

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O., Moran, R., Brugger, P. and Makin, T.R. (2018). Bimanual sensorimotor system is more effective than a unimanual system. Hand, Brain and Technology conference, Ascona, Switzerland (poster presentation)

Schone, H.R., Maimon-Mor, R.O. and Makin, T.R. (2017). Assessing embodiment with visual priming tasks. Queen Square Symposium, London, UK (poster presentation)