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Daniel Peterson's Gait and Balance Disorders Laboratory focuses on understanding causes and treatments for mobility impairments in neurological populations including (but not limited to) people with Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. His group's overall goal is to improve gait, reduce falls and increase quality of life in these groups. To understand gait and balance disorders and improve quality of life, Peterson's team applies biomechanical (i.e. motion capture), neuropsychological (cognitive assessments) and imaging techniques (fMRI).
Current projects in the Peterson lab include: 1) characterizing biomechanics prior to and during slips (i.e. loss of balance) with and without divided attention; 2) measuring people's ability to improve responses to slips, and 3) identification of responders and non-responders to physical therapy, and 4) understanding cognitive factors related to falls.
Prior to his appointment at ASU, Peterson was a research scientist with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Portland and Salt Lake City (2014-2016).
Education
Postdoctoral Fellow. Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University 2013-2016
Ph.D. Movement Science, Washington University in St. Louis 2013
M.S.C.I. Clinical Investigation, Washington University in St. Louis 2013
M.S. Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University 2008
My current work focuses on understanding the interaction between balance, postural control, and cognitive deficits in neurological populations such as people with Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. In particular, I am interested in how gait and postural control can be improved by rehabilitation using principles of motor learning. I am also engaged in work to better understand reactive, or protective postural responses after a slip or trip in neurological populations.
Selected, recent citations (chosen from ~85 peer reviewed manuscripts):
Monaghan, AS, Ofori E, Fling B, Peterson DS. Associating White Matter Microstructural Integrity and Improvements in Reactive Stepping in People with Parkinson’s Disease. Brain Imaging & Behavior. Epub ahead of print
Monaghan, AS, Hooyman A, Dibble LE, Mehta S, Peterson DS Generalization of In-Place Balance Perturbation Training in People with Parkinson Disease. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Epub ahead of print.
Monaghan, AS, Hooyman A, Dibble LE, Mehta S, Peterson DS Cognitive Predictors of Responsiveness to Reactive Step Training in People With Parkinson’s Disease at Fall Risk. Neuroscience Letters. 2023 Nov 20:817:137517. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137517. Epub 2023 Oct 11.PMID: 37832815
Monaghan AS, Ragothaman A, Harker GR, Carlson-Kuhta P, Horak FBc, Peterson DS. Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease: Implications for Dual-Task Walking. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. PMID: 37574744 DOI: 10.3233/JPD-230063.
Peterson DS, Van Liew, Stuart S, Horak FB, Mancini M. (2020) Relating Parkinson freezing and balance domains: A structural equation modeling approach. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2020 Aug 25;79:73-78. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2020.08.027. PMID: 32889503
Van Liew C, Monaghan A, Foreman B, Dibble LE, Peterson DS (2021) Perturbation Practice in Multiple Sclerosis: Assessing Generalization from Surface Support Translations to Tether-Release Tasks. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Aug 16;56:103218. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103218. PMID: 34454306
Monaghan A, Huisinga J, Peterson DS. (2021) The Application of Principal Component Analysis to Characterize Gait and its Association with Falls in Multiple Sclerosis. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 17;11(1):12811. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92353-2. PMID: 34140612
Ehgoetz Martens KA, Peterson DS, Almeida QJ, Lewis SJG, Hausdorff JM, Nieuwboer A. (2020) Behavioural Manifestations and Associated Non-Motor Features of Freezing of Gait. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Sep;116:350-364. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.026. Epub 2020 Jun 27. PMID: 32603716
