Dr. Stacey Gorniak

Assistant Professor

Office Number: 104U Garrison
Phone: 713-743-4802
Fax: 713-743-9860

Email: sgorniak@central.uh.edu

Mailing Address:
3855 Holman St., Rm 104 Garrison
Houston, TX 77204-6015

Research Interests

My research interests are directed towards understanding healthy and pathological neuromuscular control. Specifically, I am interested in sensori-motor challenges in hand function and understanding how neurological pathology changes how we use our hands. I am interested in investigating how neural changes due to aging, traumatic brain injury, and neuropathy affect functional hand use, particularly in actions of daily living.

Recent Publications and Research Activity

Gorniak SL, Alberts JL (2013). Effects of task complexity on grip-to-load coupling in bimanual actions. Experimental Brain Research. (in press).

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2011). Manipulation of a fragile object by elderly individuals. Experimental Brain Research 212(4): 505-516.

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2010). Manipulation of a fragile object. Experimental Brain Research 202(2): 413-430.

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2009). Hierarchical control of prehension: II. Multi-digit synergies. Experimental Brain Research 194(1): 1-15.

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2009). Hierarchical control of prehension: I. Biomechanics. Experimental Brain Research 193(4): 615-631.

Latash ML, Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM (2008). Hierarchies of Synergies in Human Movements. Kinesiology 40(1): 29-38.

Gorniak SL, Duarte M, Latash ML (2008). Do synergies improve accuracy? A study of speed-accuracy trade-offs during finger force production. Motor Control.12(2): 151-172.

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2007). Emerging and Disappearing Synergies in a Hierarchically Controlled System. Experimental Brain Research 183(2): 259-270.

Gorniak SL, Zatsiorsky VM, Latash ML (2007). Hierarchies of Synergies: An Example of Two-Hand, Multifinger Tasks. Experimental Brain Research 179(2): 167-180.

Education

B.S. in Physics at the Pennsylvania State University - Erie, The Behrend College, Erie, PA , 2004

M.S. in Kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA, 2006

Ph.D. in Kinesiology at the Pennsylvania State University - University Park, PA, 2009

Post-doc in Biomedical Engineering at the Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland, OH, 2011