Virginia Penhune, Ph.D.

(Ph.D. Psychology 1998; University of McGill)

Associate Professor of Psychology
Concordia University

7141 Sherbrooke Street, West
Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6

Tel: 514-848-2424 ext. 7535
E-mail: Virginia.Penhune@Concordia.ca

Research Lab: Laboratory for Mortor Learning and Neural Plasticity

Website: http://psychology.concordia.ca/fac/penhune/

T

he work in my laboratory is focused on understanding plastic changes in the human brain related to motor learning and performance. My research program has three major axes. The first is uses structural and functional MRI to examine the role of motor networks in learning and memory for fine motor skills. We are particularly interested in identifying brain regions involved in learning different movement parameters, and in auditory-motor integration and timing. The second axis of research comprises kinematic studies of motor skill learning using 3D motion capture that are aimed at identifying specific movement parameters related to movement timing and error correction. The third axis is focused on developmental studies of motor skill learning. This axis includes studies of children and older adults, as well as individuals with musical training. Current studies include behavioral and brain imaging studies aimed at identifying a possible sensitive period for musical training, as well as studies of movement imitation.

Current research projects include:

1. Exploring the role of motor cortex, BG and cerebellum in motor learning

2. Testing the impact of early musical training on brain structure and function

3. Examining the relationship between motor imitation and motor learning

4. Studying developmental changes in motor learning and performance in children

5. Exploring the effects of aging on motor learning and kinematics (with Dr. K Li)

6. Examining the neural basis of auditory-motor integration (with Dr. R Zatorre)

Penhune VB and Steele CJ (2012). Parallel contributions of cerebellar, striatal
and M1 mechanisms to human motor sequence learning. Behavioral and Brain
Research .226: 579-591.

Trewartha K, Li KJH and Penhune VB (2011). Movement kinematics of pre-
potent response suppression in aging: Effects of conflict salience and frequency.
Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66(2):185-194.

Penhune VB (2011). Sensitive periods in human development: evidence from
musical training. Cortex. PMID:21665201

Spilka M, Steele CJ and Penhune VB (2010). Action imitation and the effects
of musical training. Experimental Brain Research, 204(4): 549-558.

Bailey JA and Penhune VB (2010). Rhythm synchronization performance
and auditory working memory in early- and late-trained musicians.
Experimental Brain Research, 204(1):91-101

Steele CJ and Penhune VB (2010). Specific increases within global decreases:
An fMRI investigation of five days of motor sequence learning. Journal of
Neuroscience, 30(24):8332-41.

Fraser SA, Li KZH and Penhune VB (2010). Dual-tasks performance reveals

increased involvement of executive control in fine motor sequencing in healthy
aging. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 65(5):526-35