RESEARCH BACKGROUND AND INTERESTS

Movement control in able-bodied humans and humans with neurological dysfunction are the focus of research program. More specifically, would like to understand interaction of spinal circuits and supraspinal systems during upper limb movements. Studies to understand this interaction include anatomical (dissection and MRI) and electrophysiological studies to identify the neuromuscular elements that interact with spinal circuits, and what principles govern their coordination. Studies are also underway to understand plasticity of spinal circuits, including those underlying stretch reflexes. These studies utilize operant conditioning of reflexes that may be useful for the functional training of newly formed connections in spinal cord injured patients if regeneration can be induced. The operant conditioning studies will also be useful in determining the relationship of spinal circuits and voluntary movement.

CURRENT RESEARCH

Spatial Organization and Plasticity of Lower Limb Muscle Activity, NCMRR of NIH

EDUCATION

PhD, The University of Virginia, 1979-84, Anatomy and Neuroscience

BS, The Ohio State University,1972-76, Allied Health
 

TEACHING

Neuroscience and motor control

PUBLICATIONS

Segal, R.L., and  Song, A.W:. Non-uniform activity of human calf muscles during an exercise task, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 86 (2005) 2013-2017.

 Segal, R.L., Catlin, P.A., Krauss, E.W., Merick, K.A., Robilotto, J.B.: Anatomical partitioning of three human forearm muscles. Cells Tissues Organs.  170 (2002) 183-197.

Livingston, B.P., Segal, R.L., Song, A.W., Hopkins K., English, A.W. and C.C. Manning: Magnetic resonance imaging t2 times of extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis after isometric exercises.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.  82 (2001) 1164-1170.

Segal, R.L., Wolf , S.L. Catlin, P.A., Gilliand, R.L., Taffs, J.K., Bass, H.C., and Vickers, E.F.: Uncoupling of human short and long latency stretch reflex responses with operant conditioning.  Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.   17 (2000) 17-22.

 Segal, R.L.: Spinal cord plasticity is a possible tool for rehabilitation.  Neurology Reports, 22 (1998) 54-60.

 Segal, R.L.: Plasticity in the nervous system: Operant conditioning of the spinal stretch reflex. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation.  3 (1997) 76-87.

 Segal, R.L.: What is spasticity and why bother to measure it?  Contemporary Perspectives on Movement Disorders: Mechanisms and Measurement.  Neurology Reports 21 (1997) 76-77.

Smith, B.N., Segal, R.L. and  Wolf, S.L.:  Long latency ankle responses to dynamic perturbation in elderly fallers and non-fallers.  J. Amer. Ger. Soc.  44 (1996) 1447-1454.

 Wolf, S.L., Segal, R.L., Catlin, P.A., Tschorn, J., Raleigh, T., Kontos, H. and Pate, P.: Determining consistency of elbow joint threshold angle in spastic elbow flexor muscles.  Physical Therapy  76 (1996) 586-600.

Wolf, S.L. and Segal R.L.: Down-training human biceps brachii spinal stretch reflexes.  J. Neurophysiol.  75 (1996) 1637-1646.

 Wolf, S.L., Segal, R.L., Heter, N.D. and Catlin, P.A.: Contralateral and long latency effects of human biceps brachii stretch reflex conditioning.   Exp. Brain Res.  107 (1995) 96-102.

 Segal, R.L. and Wolf, S.L.:  Operant conditioning of the biceps brachii spinal stretch reflexes in spinal cord injured patients.     Exp. Neurol.. 130 (1994) 202-213.

 Saca, L.R. de, Segal, R.L. and Catlin, P.A.: Immediate effects of the toe spreader on the tonic toe flexion reflex.  Phys. Ther., 74 (1994) 561-570.

 Segal, R.L. and Wolf, S.L.: Variability of human biceps brachii spinal stretch reflexes: Control conditions.  J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 3 (1993) 24-32.

 Wolf, S.L., Segal, R.L. and English, A.W.:  Task oriented electromyographic activity from the human lateral gastrocnemius muscle.  J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 3 (1993) 87-94.

 English, A.W., Wolf, S.L. and Segal, R.L.:  Compartmentalization of muscles and their motor nuclei:  The partitioning hypothesis.  Phys. Ther. 73 (1993) 857-867.

 Milidonis, M.K., Kraus, S.L., Segal, R.L. and Widmer, C.G.:   Genioglossus muscle activity in response to changes in anterior/neutral head posture.  Am. J. Ortho. Dentofac. Orthop. 103 (1993) 39-44.

 Segal, R.L. and Nichols, P.J.: Teaching basic science in physical therapy programs emphasizing movement control.  J. Phys. Ther. Ed. 7 (1993) 14-21.

 Segal, R.L.: Neuromuscular compartments in the human biceps brachii muscle.  Neurosci. Lett. 140 (1992) 98-102.

 Segal, R.L., Catlin, P.A., Barker, C., Broadbent, P., Cockerham, A., Reaver, L. and Wolf, S.L.: Modification of the human biceps brachii spinal stretch reflex:  Effects on antagonist and synergist muscles, Electromyographical Kinesiology: Proceedings of the 8th Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.  P.A. Anderson, D.J. Hobart and J.V. Danoff (Eds.).  Netherlands, Elsevier, 1991, pp. 23-25.

 Richardson-Bond, C., Coratti, L., Mast, A., Wolf, S.L., Catlin, P.A., Segal, R.L. and English, A.W.:  Patterns of electromyographic activity in the human lateral gastrocnemius muscle during weightbearing and non-weightbearing tasks, Electromyographical Kinesiology: Proceedings of the 8th Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.  P.A. Anderson, D.J. Hobart and J.V. Danoff (Eds.).  Netherlands, Elsevier, 1991, pp. 65-68.

McMahon, T., Craft, T., Mason, L., Pianta, T., Couch, L., Segal, R.L., Wolf, S.L., English, A.W. and Catlin, P.A.:  Normalized electromyographic activity patterns in human extensor carpi radialis longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles:  Differential and total activity, Electromyographical Kinesiology: Proceedings of the 8th Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology. P.A. Anderson, D.J. Hobart and J.V. Danoff (Eds.).  Netherlands, Elsevier, 1991, pp. 39-42.

 Wolf, L.B., Segal, R.L., Wolf, S.L. and Nyberg, R.:  A quantitative analysis of integrated surface and percutaneous EMG activity in lumbar erector spinae of normal young women, Spine, 16 (1991) 155-161.

 Segal, R.L. and Youssef, E.:  Comparison of wrist movements in normals and brain-injured individuals. Arch. Phys. Med. and Rehab.  72 (1991) 454-459.

 Segal, R.L., Wolf, S.L., DeCamp, M.J., Chopp, M.T. and English, A.W.:  Anatomical partitioning of three multiarticular human muscles.  Acta Anatomica 142 (1991) 261-266.

Wolf, S.L. and Segal, R.L.:  Conditioning of the spinal stretch reflex:  Implications for rehabilitation.  Phys. Ther., 70 (1990) 652-656.

Evatt, M.L. Wolf, S.L. and Segal, R.L.:  Modification of human spinal stretch reflexes:  Preliminary studies, Neurosci. Lett. 105 (1989) 350-355.

 Segal, R.L. and Beckstead, R.M.: Distribution of corticotectal axons from the caudal part of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus in the cat, Neurosci. Lett. 102 (1989) 173-178.

 Milidonis, M.K., Widmer, C.G., Segal, R.L. and Kraus, S.L.:  Surface intraoral genioglossus EMG recording technique for kinesiological studies, Am. J. Ortho. Dentofac. Orthop. 94 (1988) 240-244.

 Segal, R.L. and Beckstead, R.M.: The lateral suprasylvian corticotectal projection in cats, J. Comp. Neurol., 225 (1984) 259-275.

 Segal, R.L., Beckstead, R.M., Kersey, K.S. and Edwards, S.B.:  The prefrontal corticotectal projection in the cat, Exp. Brain Res., 51 (1983) 423-432.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

American Physical Therapy Association (since 1974);
Member of Neurology and Education Sections

American Physiological Society (2000 - present)

International Brain Research Organization (1983 - present)

Society for Neuroscience (1983 - present)