Benjamin Philip

Brain diagram with 3 neural mechanisms that distinguish left vs. right hand drawing: (1) a left hemisphere bimanual drawing system, which (during left hand drawing) has an indirect path to right primary motor cortex. (2) left hand drawing increases engagement of a contralateral motor control system, probably due to difficulty. (3) an interhemispheric tool use system that better supports the right hand.

Curious about the brain mechanisms of handedness? If you're at #SfN25, we've got a poster this morning (397.01 at V5), and the work is now online as a preprint!

Here's the summary: 3 neural mechanisms that distinguish left vs. right hand drawing (in righties)🧪🧠 #neuroskyence #neurorehabilitation

Neural mechanisms of handedness for precision drawing: hand-dependent engagement of cortical networks for bimanual control and tool use The neural mechanisms of handedness remain poorly understood, particularly for lateralized movements such as precision drawing. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined how heal...

Want even MORE science details? Read our preprint here! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Network of areas & connections that are stronger during left hand drawing than right hand.

Want to see the full science details? Here's our main results: the full spread of fMRI differences between left & right hand drawing. Lines = functional connectivity, arrows = signal magnitude. Positive values are stronger activity/connectivity for left hand.

We checked these systems in healthy adults and patients with chronic nerve injuries to their dominant hand – and found no differences between groups.

So: if you need to rely more on your non-dominant hand after injury, you do it by drawing on preexisting brain mechanisms.

Importantly, these systems are *more* active & connected for one hand than the other, not *only* for one hand. This is all spelled out properly in the preprint (linked at end of thread).

Also important: This describes righties only. Sorry, lefties! (I'm a lefty. Sorry, me.)

Brain diagram with 3 neural mechanisms that distinguish left vs. right hand drawing: (1) a left hemisphere bimanual drawing system, which (during left hand drawing) has an indirect path to right primary motor cortex. (2) left hand drawing increases engagement of a contralateral motor control system, probably due to difficulty. (3) an interhemispheric tool use system that better supports the right hand.

Curious about the brain mechanisms of handedness? If you're at #SfN25, we've got a poster this morning (397.01 at V5), and the work is now online as a preprint!

Here's the summary: 3 neural mechanisms that distinguish left vs. right hand drawing (in righties)🧪🧠 #neuroskyence #neurorehabilitation

Poster number 077.20 on Saturday morning! It's how to find the poster at the @sfn.org conference starting today :) For folks at home I could dig up links to the woks, but not today while I'm in transit!

Off to #SfN25! Bittersweet trip for me, but excited to share my mentees' work in #neuroskyence #neurorehabilitation.🧠🧪 Check these out:
1) Cortical organization predicts functional hand use vs. performance (Pstr 077.20, sat AM)
2) Neural mechanisms of non-dominant performance (Pstr 397.01, Wed AM)

p = 0.051

The two pieces of advice I've given repeatedly at #ASNR2025:

1) When writing a grant (or paper), your biggest goal is to evoke a positive emotional response in your reader

2) To understand that effect you see in patients' brains, you probably need a better understanding of the healthy brain

YouTube video by John Bow Adriano Celentano - 'Prisencolinensinainciusol'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RObu...

Next time I go to scientist karaoke, I gotta see if they have Prisencolinensinainciusol

So much going on this first day of #ASNR2025! My posters-to-see list tonight is too ambitious (n=16).

For anyone who enjoyed this AM's "art & science of writing" roundable, here's some of the fiction writing that's informed (& been informed by) my science writing: benjaminckinney.com/introduction/

I'm always interested in exploring themes of alternative minds - including the alien and artificial, but also the changes that we might choose to embrace (or reject) as neurotechnology advances in the coming decades.

Since I've just outed myself as a science fiction writer at #ASNR25, check out my work here! I've sold over 30 short stories, and been Hugo nominated 6 times for my (past) editorial work. benjaminckinney.com/introduction/

Big thanks to whoever was in the hotel room next to mine, making a 5am Zoom call without headphones.

Only Five People Have Seen This New Impossible Color Researchers discover a new color outside the range of human color vision, but you have to laser your retinas to see it

Five people—three researchers and two test subjects—have just seen a color no human has ever seen before.

I was just putting my #ASNR25 schedule into my calendar this morning, and getting excited for the symposium on behavioral economics for #neurorehabilitation!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at #ASNR2025, and I'm thrilled to be joining @benjaminphilip.bsky.social and Dr. Edelle Field-Fote to facilitate this roundtable focused on writing!

The text at the top reads, "Don’t miss this #ASNR2025 Professional Development Roundtable!". Below to the left, there are headshot photos of Ben Philip, PhD, Marie McNeely, PhD, and Edelle Field-Fote, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FASIA. To the right, the text reads, "Table F: The Art & Science of Writing". The logo of the American Society of Neurorehabilitation appears below. The text at the bottom reads, "Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM ET, Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta, GA".

Are you struggling with writing? Join us at this #ASNR2025 Roundtable with @benjaminphilip.bsky.social, @phdmarie.bsky.social, & Dr. Edelle Field-Fote! They will lead engaging discussions with advice and strategies for scientific and professional writing. 🧠🔄 🧠📈 #scicomm

www.asnr.com/i4a/pages/in...

This is incredibly upsetting. While the effects of these cancellations are clear to academics, we need to ensure that the wider public is not only aware of what's happening, but also understands how much damage this will cause to health and medical infrastructure, tech innovation, and higher ed.

The text at the top reads, "#ASNR2025 Pre-Conference Workshop, "Building Clinical Practice Guidelines for Implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces"." On the right, there is an image of a brain with blue circuitry behind it. On the left, the text reads, "The workshop will provide an overview of current approaches to the iBCI care pathway — from diagnosis and referral to implantation and ongoing management — and foster multiprofessional discussions on how to address critical gaps. When: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 pm Where: Grand Hyatt Buckhead (Atlanta, GA) *In partnership with the Implantable Brain-Computer Interface Collaborative Community (iBCI-CC)." The logos for ASNR and iBCI-CC appear underneath.

We encourage all #ASNR2025 attendees to join us for a Pre-Conference Workshop in partnership with the Implantable Brain-Computer Interface Collaborative Community (iBCI-CC)! This workshop includes dinner, presentations from BCI experts, & insightful discussions. 🧠🔄 🧠📈 🧪

www.asnr.com/i4a/pages/in...

On the left side of the image, there is a photo of a Black woman sitting down and working on a laptop computer. She is looking down at the screen and smiling slightly. The logo for the American Society of Neurorehabilitation appears below. On the right, the text read, "Apply today! Applications are open until February 7th for our ASNR Diversity Travel Fellowship Program"

🚨 Reminder! Applications for our #Diversity Travel Fellowship are due February 7th! This program provides travel support, complimentary meeting registration, and mentorship to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

www.asnr.com/i4a/pages/in...

#neurorehabilitation #neuroscience

There is a headshot photo of Dr. Benjamin Philip on the right. Underneath, the logo for the American Society of Neurorehabilitation appears. On the left, the text reads, "Get connected with ASNR members and build your network! Dr. Benjamin Philip @benjaminphilip.bsky.social #FollowFriday".

Looking to expand your network by connecting with others doing great work in #neurorehabilitation? Follow ASNR Member @benjaminphilip.bsky.social to learn more about his research on how the brain controls movement and how this can be leveraged to improve motor rehabilitation.

#FollowFriday 🧠📈 🧪

Donate to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for PTSD in Ukraine, organized by Noah Philip My day doesn't usually start in a bomb shelter. But their days? All … Noah Philip needs your support for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for PTSD in Ukraine

Folks - I am fundraising for high quality transcranial magnetic stimulation devices for my colleagues in Ukraine - please donate if you can, and distribute widely!

gofund.me/c9c53b5c

The logo for the American Society of Neurorehabilitation appears in the top left corner. To the right, the text reads, "Career Development Webinar Series: Including Individuals with Lived Experience in Research." Below, there area headshot photos of the five panelists: Hanna Hedges, BS Amy Darragh, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA Christine Broderick, MPH Heather Williamson, MPH, CPH Kim Hindery Underneath, the text reads, "Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 1pm - 2pm CST". There is a QR code in the lower right corner.

🚨 Don't forget, our next webinar is tomorrow! 🚨

Join us for a great discussion with our expert panel about including individuals with lived experience in your research studies.

www.asnr.com/i4a/pages/in...

#neurorehabilitation #rehabilitation #livedexperience 🧪 🧠📈

We've started working on a #Neurorehabilitation Starter Pack to help researchers, clinicians, and other professionals in the field get connected.

Please reply or message to be added to or removed from the list. We're excited to see a growing neurorehab community here!

go.bsky.app/4Vgz8Kz

It's been so useful & satisfying to be part of @asnrehab.bsky.social's Virtual Mentoring Program as both a mentee and a mentor. You can volunteer to join up on either side! #neurorehab

On the left side of the image, the text reads, "Less than 200 days until our next Annual Meeting!" Underneath, the logo for the American Society of Neurorehabilitation (ASNR) is displayed. On the right, there is a photo of the Atlanta skyline. The text reads, "2025 ASNR Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, April 23-25, 2025, Grand Hyatt Atlanta Buckhead".

Have you put #ASNR2025 on your calendar yet? Our next Annual Meeting is less than 200 days away, and we cannot wait to see everyone in Atlanta April 23 - 25th! Visit our website for more information and upcoming deadlines. www.asnr.com/i4a/pages/in...

#neurorehabilitation 🧠📈

Me & the poster "a mechanism of lateralized hand control for precision drawing: activity & connectivity of a locus in the left superior parietal lobule"

All set up at D34 at #SfN24 - get your brain mechanism of hand dominance, fresh off the (poster printing) presses! Pro tip: it's right superior parietal lobule & it's connections with left dorsal premotor. #neurorehab 🧪