HUNTER SCHONE
Hi, my name is Hunter. I'm a neuroscience PhD candidate in the labs of Chris Baker at the National Institutes of Health and Tamar Makin at the University of Cambridge. I have 7+ years of experience working on research on wearable technologies, motor learning and neuroimaging. Here's my CV.
schonehunter [at] gmail [dot] com
Currently living in Washington, D.C.


PROJECTS

LEARNING TO OPERATE A MUSCLE-CONTROLLED ROBOTIC HAND
In this study, we are training 60 users to operate a EMG-controlled supernumerary robotic arm over a week with multiple pre-post motor and neural (fMRI) measures. Click the poster link below to see where the research is currently at.
Preliminary results presented at SfN 2022 [POSTER] and NCM 2022 [POSTER].

DOES AMPUTATION CHANGE HAND REPRESENTATION?
This study is the first to ever investigate how the cortical hand representation changes both before and after amputation. We are working with multiple NHS sites in the UK to identify patients planning to undergo a hand amputation. We are scanning patients longitudinally: pre- and post-amputation.
Preliminary results presented at SfN 2022.

TOOL USE IN EXPERT 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 (e.g. tool 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]
.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]