• M.D., Washington University, 1982
• Ph.D., Washington University
• Internship, The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis
• Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Certifications, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Prior Work History

Clinical Specialties

Brain injury rehabilitation

Highlights

NINDS Javits Investigator Merit Award, 2003-2010]

Research

Research occupies the majority of Dr. Schieber's time and effort. He investigates how the nervous system controls individuated finger movements, like those people use in typing, or performing delicate surgery. Movements of different fingers commonly are assumed to be generated by different muscles, and controlled from different parts of the primary motor cortex. His work has shown, however, that fingers do not move independently, muscles that flex and extend the fingers act simultaneously on multiple fingers, and neurons throughout the motor cortex hand representation are active no matter which finger moves. Recent projects investigate changes that occur in normal subjects as skilled movements are learned, and following amputation and transplantation of the hand.

Academic Activity

Dr. Schieber teaches selected lectures on motor systems at the graduate level and in the medical school curriculum.

Comments

Research that improves our understanding of how the nervous system functions normally can lead to improved treatment when disease causes the nervous system to function abnormally.