Motor disorders arising from injury to the developing brain

Dr. Brunstrom has focused her research on the development of the cerebral cortex and its disorders. She and her colleagues are interested in the various neurotrophic and environmental factors that determine the development of the cortex in mammals. She has recently shown that certain developmental anomalies, including some migrational disorders,may be caused by disturbances in the trophic support for neurons in the early stage of migration.

Dr. Brunstrom's clinical interest is newborn neurology with an emphasis on the motor disorders (Cerebral Palsy) arising from injury to the developing brain, and other complications associated with premature birth. She and her colleagues established the Pediatric Neurology Cerebral Palsy Center in June of 1998. This rapidly growing center (over 400 patients) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for infants, children, adolescents and young adults with Cerebral Palsy. Dr. Brunstrom and her colleagues are presently investigating new methods of physical and drug therapy to improve motor function in patients with cerebral palsy. The Center is also collaborating with the department of Psychology at Washington University to study visual attention and working memory in these patients.