Carlo J. De Luca, Ph.D.

Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research Professor, Department of Neurology
NeuroMuscular Research Center
Biography
Bibliography
Ph.D., Queens University
M.Sc., University of New Brunswick
B.A.Sc., University of British Columbia
Phone: (617) 353-9756
Fax: (617) 353-5737
Email: cjd@bu.edu

Research Interests

  • Motor control of normal and abnormal muscles
  • Objective assessment of movement in neurologically impaired individuals
  • Innovative technology for monitoring and analyzing surface EMG signals
  • Automatic and accurate decomposition of the surface EMG signal

Current Research

Dr. De Luca focuses on the application of engineering principles to the understanding of motor control and the development of objective patient treatment procedures. Specifically, he is interested in:

  • Using innovative technology to identify motor unit action potentials from the surface EMG signal to explore the control scheme that regulates their activation and firing in the healthy neuromuscular system. This is a continuation of work that Dr. De Luca has done over the past four decades.
  • Leading a team developing algorithms for identifying dysfunctional movements in neurologically impaired patients for the purpose of providing clinicians with high-resolution reports on mobility and medication-effect for improving patient management.
  • Developing a physiologically-based mathematical model describing the generation of muscle force that allows for hypothesis testing of the influence of firing characteristics and muscle fiber mechanics.
  • Exploring the development of technology for detecting and analyzing surface EMG signals for the purpose of facilitating and expanding the use of the EMG signal in clinical, movement science, sport science and ergonomics environments.

Selected Recent Publications

De Luca CJ and Contessa P. “Hierarchical control of motor units in voluntary contraction” Journal of Neurophysiology. 107 (1): 178-195. (2012) PMID: 21975447.

De Luca CJ, Kuznetsov M, Gilmore LD and Roy SH. “Inter-electrode spacing of surface EMG sensors: Reduction of crosstalk contamination during voluntary contractions” Journal of Biomechanics. 45 (3): 555-561. (2012) PMID: 22169134.

De Luca CJ and Kline JC. “Influence of proprioceptive feedback on the firing rate and recruitment of motorneurons” Journal of Neural Engineering. 9 (1):016007. (2011) PMID: 22183300.

De Luca CJ and Hostage EC.  “Relationship between firing rate and recruitment threshold of motoneurons in voluntary isometric contractions” Journal of Neurophysiology. 104: 1034-1046. (2010) PMID: 20554838.

De Luca CJ, Gilmore LD, and Roy SH. “Filtering the Surface EMG signal: Movement artifact and baseline noise contamination” Journal of Biomechanics. (2010)

Nawab SH, Chang SS, and De Luca CJ. “High-yield decomposition of surface EMG signals” Clinical Neurophysiology. (2010)

Roy SH, Cheng MS, Chang SS, Moore J, De Luca G, Nawab SH, and De Luca CJ. “A combined sEMG and accelerometer system for monitoring functional activity in stroke” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 17 (6): 585-594. (2009)

Contessa P, Adam A, and De Luca CJ. “Motor unit control and force fluctuation during fatigue” Journal of Applied Physiology. 107: 235-243. (2009)

De Luca CJ, Gonzalez-Cueto JA, and Adam A. “Motor unit recruitment and proprioceptive feedback decrease the common drive” Journal of Neurophysiology. 101:1620-1628. (2009)

Nawab SH, Wotiz RP, and De Luca CJ. “Decomposition of Indwelling EMG Signals” Journal of Applied Physiology. 105: 700-710. (2008)

Sauvage C, Manto M, Adam A, Roark R, Jissendi P, and De Luca CJ. “Ordered Motor Unit Firing Behavior in Acute Cerebellar Stroke” Journal of Neurophysiology. 96: 2769-2774. (2006)

De Luca CJ, Adam A, Wotiz R, Gilmore LD, and Nawab SH. “Decomposition of Surface EMG Signals” Journal of Neurophysiology. 96: 1646-1657. (2006)

Adam A and De Luca CJ. “Firing Rates of Motor Units in Human Vastus Lateralis Muscle During Fatiguing Isometric Contractions” Journal of Applied Physiology. 99: 268-280. (2005)

Adam A and De Luca CJ. “Recruitment Order of Motor Units in Human Vastus Lateralis Muscle is Maintained During Fatiguing Contractions” Journal of Neurophysiology. 90: 2919-2927. (2003)