In the last year of a three-year, $160,000 study fully-funded by The Brain Recovery Project, the Center for Cerebral Palsy Research at Teacher’s College of Columbia is now recruiting children who underwent hemispherectomy and are currently between the ages of 5 and 17 YEARS to participate in a study examining the effects of extensive bimanual practice on affected hand and arm use. This study is performed in a three-week day-camp setting with other children at Teachers College, Columbia University located in New York City.

Bimanual training is a motor-learning based approach to engage children in fun activities necessitating use of both hands. Researchers are trying to understand how intensive movement training might lead to changes in the brain and to develop new treatments for hemiplegia based on what we learn about the brain in this study.

To study the areas of the brain,  researchers will use functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to take pictures of the brain. Children are only required to lay still and perform a simple squeezing task during the fMRI. They are not sedated.

The Center for Cerebral Palsy Research has been providing interventions to children with hemiplegia since 1997 and more than 200 children have participated (many several times). Emphasis is placed on making it an enjoyable experience for participants. The group has published extensively on efficacy and best-practice of upper extremity training and are recognized as leaders in the field. Our next camp will start in JUNE 21- JULY 10, 2015, and runs weekdays, 9am-3pm. Participation is free and scholarships are available to assist with transportation and logistics for qualified families!!!

If you are interested or would like more information, please visit our website (http://www.tc.edu/centers/cit/) or contact us at 212-678-3332 or cpresearch@tc.columbia.edu