Here is an overview of my undergraduate capstone project, completed at the University of Washington. You can find the video and the detailed report in the sections that follow.
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, yet the complex network dynamics that lead to functional deficits remain poorly understood. This project characterizes the immediate neurophysiological changes in the sensorimotor cortex of non-human primates following a focal ischemic lesion. Using the photothrombotic stroke technique and high-resolution electrocorticography (ECoG), we analyzed local field potentials to map connectivity changes. My results reveal a distinct decoupling of low-frequency communication alongside a compensatory increase in high-frequency synchronization in the perilesional area. These findings provide critical insights into the brain’s immediate response to injury and help lay the groundwork for developing targeted stimulation-based therapies for stroke recovery.