LICENSURE

Pennsylvania Physical Therapy  PT 002809
Delaware Physical Therapy J1-0000714

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/SOCIETIES (top)

• American Physical Therapy Association
• International Society of Motor Control
• Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC
• International Society for Ecological Psychology (1986-2005)
• Kappa Delta Pi (Honorary Society in Education; 1972-1980)
  

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Scholz' research is directed toward understanding basic processes underlying the control and coordination of movement in healthy individuals and in patients with movement dysfunction, particularly individuals with stroke. This work combines mathematical modeling with experiments designed to understand how the nervous system solves the purported "problem" of motor redundancy to learn and achieve successful functional movement tasks. This work has focused to date on the coordination of postural tasks (standing and sit-to-stand) and more skilled upper extremity activities such as reaching, pointing and drawing tasks. Another line of investigation studies recovery of walking in individuals surviving a stroke by using a novel approach combining robotics, functional electrical stimulation and motor learning. This latter work is in collaboration with other faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Physical Therapy.

RESEARCH PROJECTS & GRANTS (top)

ACTIVE

• NS050880 (PI: Scholz) 1/1/05-12/31/2008
  Coordination of reaching in healthy adults and stroke
• R01HD38582 (PI: Buchanan & Binder-Macleod) 9/2002-8/2008
  FES and Biomechanics: Treating movement disorders; Investigator on multi-departmental grant to train walking in patients following stoke.
• 2286-UD-DHHS-5032 (Subcontract) (PI: Latash: PSU) 2/2002-2/2009
  Organization of a simple synergy

COMPLETED

• National Sciences Foundation, Behavioral Neuroscience Division, (PI: Scholz)
  Effect of Task Constraints on Motor Control of Pointing (9/2000-12/2003)
• National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development (PI: Scholz)
  Control and coordination of standing from sitting (9/1998-8/2000)
• University of Delaware Research Foundation Award (PI: Scholz & Elias)
  Aiding the Disabled: Evolving efficient control methods for assistive robots (1/1994-6/1995)
• Foundation for Physical Therapy (PI: Scholz)
  A parametric study of movement coordination in squat lifting (5/1991-4/1993)
• University of Delaware Research Foundation Award (PI: Scholz)
  Patterns of coordination in the act of lifting (1/1989-6/1989)
• Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, through the Biomedical Research Committee, University of Delaware (PI: Scholz)
  Principles of neuromuscular coordination: A dynamic pattern analysis of manual lifting (7/1989-6/1990)
• Georgia State University Research Grant #88106 (PI: Scholz)
  Patterns of coordination in the act of lifting (1/1988-6/1988)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (top)

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

1. Tseng YW, Scholz JP, Galloway JC (2008). Arm differences in observed motor redundancy during elliptical drawing is related to the ability to compensate for interaction torque. (In review, submitted to Brain Research)
2. Martin V, Scholz JP, Schöner G. (2008). Using redundancy to understand how movement is generated. Theory and experiment. (In review, submitted to Neural Computation)
3. Krishnamoorthy V, Hsu W-L, Kesar TM, Benoit D, Banala SK, Perumal R, Sangwan V, Binder-Macleod SA, Agrawal SK and Scholz JP (2008). Gait Training following stroke: A pilot study combining a gravity-balanced orthosis device, functional electrical stimulation and visual feedback. (In review, submitted to Journal of Neurological Physical Therapy)
4. Kim S-H, Banala S, Agrawal SK, Scholz JP (2007). Gait adaptation in healthy adults using robot-assisted training. (In review, submitted to Experimental Brain Research)
5. Zhang W, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2008). What do synergies do? Effects of secondary constraints on multidigit synergies in accurate force-production tasks. Journal of Neurophysiology. 99: 500-513
6. Agrawal SK, Banala SK, Fattah A, Sangwan V, Krishnamoorthy V, Scholz JP, Hsu W-L (2007). Assessment of motion of a swing leg and gait rehabilitation with a gravity-balancing exoskeleton. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 15: 410-420
7. Schöner G, Scholz JP (2007). Analyzing multi-degree-of-freedom movement systems based on variance: Uncovering structure vs. extracting correlations. Motor Control. 11: 258-274
8. Hsu W-L, Scholz JP, Schöner G, Jeka J, Kiemel T (2007). Control and estimation of posture during quiet stance depends on multijoint coordination. Journal of Neurophysiology, 97(4):3024-35.
9. De Freitas SMSF, Scholz JP, Stehman AJ (2007). Effect of motor planning on use of motor abundance, Neuroscience Letters, 417: 66-71
10. Scholz JP, Schöner G, Hsu W-L, Jeka JJ, Horak F, Martin V (2007) Motor equivalent control of the center of mass in response to support surface perturbations, Experimental Brain Research, 180: 163-79
11. Reisman D, Scholz JP (2007). Deficits in surface force production during seated reaching in people after stroke, Physical Therapy, 87: 326-366
12. Krishnamoorthy V, Scholz JP, Latash, ML (2007). The use of flexible arm muscle synergies to perform an isometric stabilization task. Clinical Neurophysiology, 118: 525-537
13. Yang JF, Scholz JP, Latash ML (2007). The role of kinematic redundancy in adaptation of reaching. Experimental Brain Research, 176: 54-69
14. Banala SK, Agrawal SK, Fattah A, Krishnamoorthy V, Hsu WL, Scholz J, Rudolph K (2006). Gravity-balancing leg orthosis and its performance evaluation. Robotics, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 22(6): 1228-1239
15. Tseng YW, Scholz JP (2006) Effect of frequency scaling and arm dynamics on joint coordination underlying the control of circle-drawing. Journal of Motor Behavior, 38: 383-404
16. Tseng Y-W, Scholz JP (2005). Unilateral vs. Bilateral Coordination of Circle-Drawing Tasks. Acta Psychologica, 120: 172-198
17. Lewek MD, Scholz JP, Rudolph KS, Snyder-Mackler L (2006) Stride-to-stride variability of knee motion in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Gait and Posture , 23: 505-11
18. Reisman D, Scholz JP (2006) Workspace location influences joint coordination during reaching in post-stroke hemiparesis. Experimental Brain Research. 170:265-76
19. Hsu W-L, Krishnamoorthy V, Scholz JP (2006) Evaluation of an alternative Test of MVIC for EMG normalization in patient populations. Muscle and Nerve. 33(2): 232-241
20. Latash ML, Krishnamoorthy V, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky VM. (2005). Postural Synergies and Their Development. Neural Plasticity. 12(2-3):119-30
21. Krisnamoorthy V, Yang J-F, Scholz JP (2005) Joint coordination during quiet stance: Effects of vision. Experimental Brain Research, 164: 1-17
22. Yang J-F and Scholz JP (2005) Learning a throwing task is associated with differential changes in the use of motor abundance. Experimental Brain Research, 163: 137-158
23. Tseng Y-W, Scholz JP (2005)The effect of workspace on the use of motor abundance. Motor Control, 9: 75-100
24. Latash M.L., Jaric S., Scholz J.P., Zatsiorsky V.M. (2004) Motor synergies and their changes with practice. Journal of Human Kinetics,12: 3-14
25. Krishnamoorthy V, Latash ML, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky V (2004). Muscle modes during shifts of the center of pressure by standing persons: Effect of instability and additional support. Experimental Brain Research, 157: 18-31
26. Shinohara M, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML. (2004). Finger interaction during accurate multi-finger force production tasks in young and elderly persons. Experimental Brain Research, 156:282-92
27. Reisman, D, Scholz JP (2003). Aspects of joint coordination are preserved during pointing in persons with post-stroke hemiparesis. Brain, 126:2510-2527
28. Krishnamoorthy V, Latash ML, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky V (2003). Muscle synergies during shifts of the center of pressure by standing persons. Experimental Brain Research, 152:281–292
29. Scholz JP, Kang N, Patterson D, Latash ML (2003). Uncontrolled manifold analysis of single trials during multi-finger force production by persons with and without Down syndrome. Experimental Brain Research, 153(1):45-58
30. Latash ML, Scholz JP, Danion F, Zatsiorsky V, Schöner G (2003). Approaches to Analysis of Handwriting as a Task of Coordinating a Redundant Motor System, Human Movement Science, 22: 153-171
31. Tseng Y, Scholz, JP, Schöner G, Hotchkiss L (2003). Effect of Accuracy Constraint on the Underlying Joint Coordination of Pointing Movements. Experimental Brain Research, 149: 276:288
32. Danion F, Sch öner G, Latash ML, Li S, Scholz JP, Zatsiorsky VM (2003). A Mode Hypothesis for Finger Interaction during Multi-Finger Force Production Tasks. Biological Cybernetics, 88: 91-98
33. Reisman D, Scholz JP, Schöner G (2002). Differential Joint Coordination in the Tasks of Standing Up and Sitting Down. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 12: 493-505
34. Latash ML, Scholz JP, Danion F, Schöner G (2002). Finger coordination during discrete and oscillatory force production tasks. Experimental Brain Research, 146: 419-432
35. Tseng Y-W, Scholz JP, Schöner G (2002). Goal-equivalent joint coordination in pointing: Affect of vision and arm dominance. Motor Control, 6: 183-204
36. Reisman D, Scholz JP, Schöner G (2002). Coordination Underlying the Control of Whole Body Momentum during Sit-to-Stand. Gait and Posture, 15(1): 45-55
37. Latash ML, Scholz JP, Schöner G (2002). Motor Control Strategies Revealed in the Structure of Motor Variability. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews, 30: 26-31
38. Scholz JP, Danion F, Latash ML, Schöner G (2002). Understanding finger coordination through analysis of the structure of force variability. Biological Cybernetics, 86: 29-39
39. Latash ML, Scholz JP, Danion F, Schöner G (2001). Structure of motor variability in marginally redundant multi-finger force production tasks. Experimental Brain Research, 141: 153-165
40. Scholz JP, Reisman D, Schöner G (2001). Effects of Varying Task Constraints on Solutions to Joint Control in Sit-to-Stand. Experimental Brain Research. 141: 485-500
41. Scholz JP, Schöner G, Latash ML (2000). Motor control of pistol shooting: Identifying control variables with the uncontrolled manifold. Experimental Brain Research, 135(3):382-404
42. Rao R, Agrawal SK, Scholz JP (2000). A Robot Test-bed for Assistance and Assessment in Physical Therapy. Advanced Robotics, 14(7): 565-578

PRESENTATIONS / ABSTRACTS (top)

1. Kim S-H, Banala S, Agrawal SK, Scholz JP. Robot-Assisted Gait Training Following Stroke. International Stroke Conference 2008, February 20-22, New Orleans, LA. Abstract # 3748
2. Krishnamoorthy V, Hsu W-L, Scholz JP, Kesar TM, Benoit DL, Perumal R, Binder-Macleod S, Banala SK, Sangwan V, Agrawal SK. Gait Training following stroke: A pilot study combining a gravity-balanced orthotic device, functional electrical stimulation and visual feedback, CSM2008 (Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association), February 9, 2008; Nashville, TN
3. De Freitas SMSF, Scholz JP. Selective use of motor abundance in persons with left and right post-stroke hemiparesis. Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, November 3-8, 2007, Poster #623.8
4. Scholz JP, Kim S-H, Banala S, Agrawal SK. Alteration of the walking pattern of healthy subjects following robotic training. Annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, November 3-8, 2007, Poster #82.25
5. Scholz JP, Hsu W-L, Schöner G, Jeka JJ, Kiemel T. Control and estimation of posture during quiet stance depend on multijoint coordination. 18 th International Society for Posture and Gait Meeting, Burlington, VT, August 14-18, 2007
6. De Freitas SMSF, Scholz JP, Stehman AJ. Does Movement Planning Influence the Use of Motor Abundance In Reaching? Progress in Motor Control VI, Santos, Brazil. August 9-12, 2007
7. Scholz JP, Krishnaamoorthy V, Hsu W-L, Agrawal S, Banal S. The effect of a gravity balancing orthosis on the electromographic activity of leg movements. Abstract #192368, CSM2006, San Diego, CA, February 1-5, 2006
8. Krishnamoorthy V, Hsu W-L, Scholz JP, Banala SK, Agrawal SK (2006). Evaluation of a gravity-balanced orthosis for improving gait after stroke. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Atlanta, GA Abstract #743.6
9. Tseng YW, Scholz JP. Arm dynamics and motor redundancy underlying the coordination of circle-drawing. Accepted for 35 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Neuroscience 2005, Washington, DC, November 12-16, 2005
10. Tseng YW, Scholz JP. Effect of movement dynamics on joint coordination underlying the control of an bimanual elliptical-drawing task. Accepted for Progress in Motor Control V: Pennsylvania State University. University Park, PA. August 17-20, 2005
11. Krisnamoorthy V, Scholz JP, Latash ML. Muscle synergies in the upper extremity during stabilization of balance in sitting. Accepted for Progress in Motor Control V: Pennsylvania State University. University Park, PA. August 17-20, 2005
12. Martin V, Scholz JP, Schöner G. A theoretical account for the uncontrolled manifold and motor equivalence in pointing movements. Accepted for Progress in Motor Control V: Pennsylvania State University. University Park, PA. August 17-20, 2005
13. Krisnamoorthy V, Scholz JP, Yang J-F. Joint coordination during quiet stance: effects of vision. Program No. 306.1. 2004 Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online. 34 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, October 23-27, 2004
14. Martin V, Scholz JP, Schöner G. Theory of the uncontrolled manifold: variance, self-motion, and neuronal noise. Program No. 871.17. 2004 Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online. 34 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, October 23-27, 2004
15. Tseng Y-W, Scholz JP. Use of motor abundance to control unimanual vs bimanual circle drawing . Program No. 871.18. 2004 Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online. 34 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, October 23-27, 2004
16. Scholz JP, Hsu W, Schöner G, Jeka J, Horak F. Motor equivalent postural responses revealed by the UCM approach. Program No. 873.5. 2004 Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online. 34 th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, October 23-27, 2004
17. Scholz JP, Dwight T, Lynch J, Tseng Y, Schöner G. Effect of movement speed on joint coordination in 3D reaching. 2004 NASPSPA Conference , Vancouver, CA. June 2004
18. Reisman D, Scholz JP. The influence of workspace location on the kinematics of seated reaching in persons with hemiparesis. 2004 NASPSPA Conference , Vancouver, CA. June 2004
19. Chang Y-H, Scholz J.P. and Nichols T.R. Hindlimb coordination during cat locomotion after loss of stretch reflexes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 4-8, 2004
20. Martin V., Schöner G. and Scholz, J.P. A dynamical model of the uncontrolled manifold (UCM). 33 rd Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, November 8-12, 2003
21. Krishnamoorthy V., Goodman S.R., Latash M.L., Scholz, J.P. and Zatsiorsky V.M. Multi-muscle synergies in postural tasks. 33 rd Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, November 8-12, 2003
22. Tseng Y-W. and Scholz J.P. The effect of workspace on motor abundance. Progress in Motor Control IV, Caen, France, August 20-23, 2003
23. Yang, J-F. and Scholz J.P. Changes in motor abundance related to learning a Frisbee throwing task. Progress in Motor Control IV, Caen, France, August 20-23, 2003
24. Chang Y-H, Scholz J.P. and Nichols T.R. Hindlimb coordination during cat locomotion. Neural Control of Movement, Santa Barbara, CA, April 22-27, 2003
25. Reisman D.S. and Scholz J.P. Coordination of reaching involving the trunk in persons with hemiparesis. Combined Sections Meeting, American Physical Therapy Association, Tampa, FL, February 2003
26. Scholz J.P. Exploring stability in the context of postural control (Invited symposium on postural control). 2002 NASPSPA Conference, Baltimore, MD, June 6-8, 2002
27. Yang J-F. and Scholz J.P. Changes in Motor Abundance Underlying the Learning of Coordination Patterns for a Frisbee Throw. Mid-Atlantic Motor Behavior Meeting, Newark, DE, April 13, 2002
28. Tseng Y. and Scholz J.P. Effect of index of task difficult on the use of goal-equivalent joint combinations in a pointing task. Mid-Atlantic Motor Behavior Meeting, Newark, DE, April 13, 2002
29. Reisman D. and Scholz J.P. Differences in coordination of joint motion timing in persons with hemiparesis and healthy persons during a seated reaching task. Combined Sections Meeting, American Physical Therapy Association, Boston, MA, February 22, 2002
30. Tseng Y., Scholz J.P. and Schöner G. Joint coordination for control of pointing movements to different sized targets. 31 st Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, November 10-15, 2001
31. Scholz J.P., Reisman D. and Schöner G. Coordination of pointing movements in patients following stroke. 31 st Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, November 10-15, 2001
32. Scholz, J.P., Latash ML, Danion, F. and Schöner G Central control strategies revealed through an analysis of the structure of finger force variability under stable and unstable conditions. Progress in Motor Control III. Montreal, Canada. August 16-18, 2001
33. Danion F., Latash M.L., Sheng L., Scholz J.P., Schöner G., and Zatsiorsky V.M. A model for finger interaction during maximal force production tasks. Progress in Motor Control III. Montreal, Canada. August 16-18, 2001
34. Tseng Y., Reisman D., Yang J-F, Schöner G. and Scholz J.P. Joint coordination underlying the control of a pointing task with and without vision. Progress in Motor Control III, Montreal, Canada, August 15-18, 2001
35. Reisman D., Yang J-F, Tseng Y., Schöner G. and Scholz J.P. Joint coordination underlying the control of a pointing task in healthy and hemiplegic persons. Progress in Motor Control III, Montreal, Canada, August 15-18, 2001
36. Reisman D and Scholz, J.P. The Structure of Joint Coordination underlying the Control of Body CM during Standing up and Sitting Down. ISPG 2001: Symposium of the International Society for Postural and Gait Research. Maastricht, Netherlands. June 23-27, 2001
37. Reisman D and Scholz, J.P. Effects of Varying Perceptual Information on the Control of Body Momentum in a Sit to Stand Task. 2001 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. San Antonio, TX. February 14-18, 2001
38. Latash, M.L, Danion F., Scholz, J.P., Schöner G Abstract 3676: Finger coordination in force production tasks and the structure of motor variability. Society for Neuroscience 30 th Annual Meeting. November, 2000, New Orleans, LA
39. Scholz, J.P. and Reisman D. Effect of Task Constraints on Coordination of Sit-to-Stand. 2000 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. New Orleans, LA. February 2-6, 2000
40. Scholz, J.P., Schöner G and Latash ML Identifying Essential Control Variables: A test of the Uncontrolled Manifold Concept. Progress in Motor Control-II: Structure-Function Relations in Voluntary Movement. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. August 19-20, 1999
41. Rao, R., Agrawal, S.K., and Scholz, J.P., A Robot Test-bed for Assistance and Assessment in Physical Therapy, International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Stanford University, June 1999
42. Schöner G and Scholz, J.P. Controlling some degrees of freedom more than others. Jacques Monod Conference on Plasticity and Adaptation in Motor Control, Assouis, France. September 19-24, 1998; Organizers: Drs. Jean Massion and Hans Hultborn
43. Scholz, J.P. and Latash ML Alteration of a bimanual synergy for object support in patients with hemiplegia. Society for Neuroscience 28 th Annual Meeting. November 7-12, 1998, Los Angeles, CA
44. McMillan, A.G. and Scholz, J.P. Changes in coordination of a sit-to-stand task across development and seat height. Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. February, 1998, Boston, MA
45. Scholz, J.P. The development of coordination dynamics for a functional motor task: Standing from sitting. Multisegmental Motor Control: Interface of Biomechanical, Neural and Behavioral Approaches. New Hampton School, New Hampton, NH. August 13-18, 1995
46. McMillan, A.G. and Scholz, J.P. Changes in coordination of a sit to stand task across development and seat height. World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress. Convention Center, Washington, DC. June 25-30, 1995
47. Millford, J.P. and Scholz, J.P. Bimanual coordination deficits in Parkinson's Disease. World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress. Convention Center, Washington, DC. June 25-30, 1995

SERVICE (top)

• Member, Board of Directors, Delaware Stroke Initiative, 2000-present
• Secretary, International Society of Motor Control, 2001-2006
• Editorial Board, Motor Control, 1996-present
• Manuscript Reviewer,
  • Experimental Brain Research, 2000-present
  • Journal of Motor Behavior, 1994-present
  • Physical Therapy, 1998-200
• Member, Research Committee of the Neurology Section, American Physical Therapy Association, 1995-1997

STUDENTS & TRAINEES (top)

COURSES TAUGHT (top)

• PHYT 623 Clinical Neuroscience - Motor Control lectures
• PHYT 630: Human Movement Control - Graduate Seminar
• PHYT 803: Medical Science III: Neurology - Coordinator
• PHYT 804: Neurophysiologic Evaluation and Treatment