Our team

Brooke Dexheimer

Brooke Dexheimer, PhD, OTD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor

Email: dexheimerb@vcu.edu

Research Lab

  • NERDD Lab (Novel Environments for Reducing Disability & Dysfunction)

Professional Interests

  • Underlying mechanisms of motor control and motor learning
  • Development of evidence-based interventions for the treatment of neurological injuries
  • Non-invasive neuromodulation (TMS, tDCS, tACS)
  • Clinical and research applications for augmented and virtual reality

Education

  • 2022: Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2021: Graduate Certificate in Translational Science, Pennsylvania State University
  • 2018: O.T.D. in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2014: B.A. in Movement & Exercise Science, University of Northern Iowa

Certifications

  • Virginia Occupational Therapy License
  • National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

Grants

  • Dexheimer (PI), 2023 – 2024
    “A novel method of quantifying lateralized fine motor impairments in Parkinson’s Disease”
    Shirley Ryan AbilityLab C-STAR (Center for Smart Use of Technologies to Assess Real World Outcomes)

Selected Publications

  • Dexheimer, B., Sainburg, R. When the non-dominant arm dominates: the effects of visual information and task experience on speed-accuracy advantages. Exp Brain Res 239, 655–665 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-06011-6
  • Maenza, C., Sainburg, R.L., Varghese, R., Dexheimer, B., Demers, M., Bishop, L., Jayasinghe, S.A., Wagstaff, D.A. & Winstein, C. Ipsilesional arm training in severe stroke to improve functional independence (IPSI): phase II protocol. BMC Neurol 22, 141 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02643-z
  • Dexheimer, B., Przybyla, A., Murphy, T.E., Akpinar, S. & Sainburg, R.L. Reaction time asymmetries provide insight into mechanisms underlying dominant and non-dominant hand selection. Exp Brain Res 240, 2791–2802 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-022-06451-2
  • Dexheimer, B., Sainburg, R.L., Sharp, S., & Philip, B.A. (in press) The roles of handedness and hemispheric lateralization: implications for rehabilitation of the central and peripheral nervous system. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Selected Abstracts

  • Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., Jayasinghe, S.A.L., Kantak, S., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, July). Anodal (excitatory) HD-tDCS demonstrates a contralateral role of the left posterior parietal cortex in interlimb transfer of learning. Poster session, Occupational Therapy Summit of Scholars. Madison, WI.

  • Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., Jayasinghe, S.A.L., Kantak, S., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, November). Anodal (excitatory) HD-tDCS demonstrates a contralateral role of the left posterior parietal cortex in interlimb transfer of learning. Poster session, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.

  • Kitchen, N., Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, November). The interaction of hand and hemisphere on interlimb transfer of visuomotor learning: An anodal HD-tDCS study targeting posterior parietal cortex. Poster session, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.

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