Dr. Morton's research focuses on neural mechanisms for the production and adaptation of human locomotion. She is particularly interested in the relative roles of various supraspinal brain regions like the motor cortex and the cerebellum in the regulation and modulation of normal locomotor patterns, and the effect of different behavioral and environmental contexts on the control of locomotion. Dr. Morton's laboratory utilizes primarily a three-dimensional motion capture system and electromyography to record and analyze movement biomechanics and muscle activity in healthy adults and individuals with brain lesions. In her current project, she is studying ankle movements in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis to better understand motor cortical control of interlimb coordination during voluntary and locomotor tasks.
Susanne M. Morton, PT, PhD is Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science. Dr. Morton earned her Ph.D. in Movement Science from Washington University in St. Louis, and subsequently completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Neurology at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her research, Dr. Morton is involved in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum, teaching basic Neuroscience to the entry-level DPT students.