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Professor Annette Sterr

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuropsychology

Qualifications: PhD, Dipl. Psych, CPsychol

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 2883
Room no: 02 AC 04

Office hours

Wednesday 9.30 - 12.30 or by appointment

Further information

Biography

Annette studied Psychology and Biology at the University of Konstanz where she obtained her PhD in 1998. She was a lecturer (2000-2002) and reader (2002-2003) in the School of Psychology at the University of Liverpool before she joined the University of Surrey as a chair in Cognitive Neuroscience in 2003. She was head of Psychology from 2008-2011, and served as associate dean international from 2009-2011. At present she is leading the Brain and Behaviour Research group. 

Research Interests

My research focuses on clinical neuroscience brain plasticity with particular emphasis on functional brain organization, neurological rehabilitation, and most recently sleep. Asecond strand of studies aims to understand the neuromodulatory effects of glucose and hormones on cognition.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Szameitat AJ, Shen S, Bastos Conforto A, Sterr A. (2012) 'Cortical activation during executed, imagined, observed, and passive wrist movements in healthy volunteers and stroke patients'. Elsevier Neuroimage, 62 (1), pp. 266-280.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.05.009
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/534277/

    Abstract

    Motor imagery, passive movement, and movement observation have been suggested to activate the sensorimotor system without overt movement. The present study investigated these three covert movement modes together with overt movement in a within-subject design to allow for a fine-grained comparison of their abilities in activating the sensorimotor system, i.e. premotor, primary motor, and somatosensory cortices. For this, 21 healthy volunteers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In addition we explored the abilities of the different covert movement modes in activating the sensorimotor system in a pilot study of 5 stroke patients suffering from chronic severe hemiparesis. Results demonstrated that while all covert movement modes activated sensorimotor areas, there were profound differences between modes and between healthy volunteers and patients. In healthy volunteers, the pattern of neural activation in overt execution was best resembled by passive movement, followed by motor imagery, and lastly by movement observation. In patients, attempted overt execution was best resembled by motor imagery, followed by passive movement, and lastly by movement observation. Our results indicate that for severely hemiparetic stroke patients motor imagery may be the preferred way to activate the sensorimotor system without overt behavior. In addition, the clear differences between the covert movement modes point to the need for within-subject comparisons.

  • Sterr AM, Bastos Conforto A. (2012) 'Plasticity of Adult Sensorimotor System in Severe Brain Infarcts: Challenges and Opportunities'. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Neural Plasticity,
    doi: 10.1155/2012/970136
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/401276/

    Abstract

    Functional reorganization forms the critical mechanism for the recovery of function after brain damage. These processes are driven by inherent changes within the central nervous system (CNS) triggered by the insult and further depend on the neural input the recovering system is processing. Therefore these processes interact with not only the interventions a patient receives, but also the activities and behaviors a patient engages in. In recent years, a wide range of research programs has addressed the association between functional reorganization and the spontaneous and treatment-induced recovery. The bulk of this work has focused on upper-limb and hand function, and today there are new treatments available that capitalize on the neuroplasticity of the brain. However, this is only true for patients with mild to moderated impairments; for those with very limited hand function, the basic understanding is much poorer and directly translates into limited treatment opportunities for these patients. The present paper aims to highlight the knowledge gap on severe stroke with a brief summary of the literature followed by a discussion of the challenges involved in the study and treatment of severe stroke and poor long-term outcome.

  • Ellis J, Thomsom A, Gregory AM, Sterr AM. (2012) 'Biased Processing of Sleep-Related Stimuli in Children of Parents With Insomnia'. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 10
    doi: 10.1080/15402002.2011.634050
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/714260/

    Abstract

    Disorder-specific cognitive biases have been observed in children whose parents suffer from psychological disorders. Despite those same biases being observed in individuals with insomnia, they have yet to be explored as an index of vulnerability in children of parents with insomnia. It was hypothesized that potentially vulnerable children would demonstrate cognitive biases to sleep- related cues, relative to controls. Following a “tired-state induction,” a sleep-related Emotional Stroop was completed by 2 groups: 38 children of parents with insomnia and 51 controls. Children also reported their observations about the content of the Stroop words. Results showed an attention bias in children whose parents have insomnia, but no interpretive bias. The results are discussed in terms of a predispositional vulnerability to insomnia.

  • Dean PJ, Seiss E, Sterr A. (2012) 'Motor Planning in Chronic Upper-Limb Hemiparesis: Evidence from Movement-Related Potentials.'. Public Library of Science PLoS One, 7 (10)
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044558
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/729883/

    Abstract

    Background Chronic hemiplegia is a common long-term consequence of stroke, and subsequent motor recovery is often incomplete. Neurophysiological studies have focused on motor execution deficits in relatively high functioning patients. Much less is known about the influence exerted by processes related to motor preparation, particularly in patients with poor motor recovery. Methodology/Principal Findings The current study investigates motor preparation using a modified response-priming experiment in a large sample of patients (n = 50) with moderate-to-severe chronic hemiparesis. The behavioural results revealed that hemiparetic patients had an increased response-priming effect compared to controls, but that their response times were markedly slower for both hands. Patients also demonstrated significantly enhanced midline late contingent negative variation (CNV) during paretic hand preparation, despite the absence of overall group differences when compared to controls. Furthermore, increased amplitude of the midline CNV correlated with a greater response-priming effect. We propose that these changes might reflect greater anticipated effort to respond in patients, and consequently that advance cueing of motor responses may be of benefit in these individuals. We further observed significantly reduced CNV amplitudes over the lesioned hemisphere in hemiparetic patients compared to controls during non-paretic hand preparation, preparation of both hands and no hand preparation. Two potential explanations for these CNV reductions are discussed: alterations in anticipatory attention or state changes in motor processing, for example an imbalance in inter-hemispheric inhibition. Conclusions/Significance Overall, this study provides evidence that movement preparation could play a crucial role in hemiparetic motor deficits, and that advance motor cueing may be of benefit in future therapeutic interventions. In addition, it demonstrates the importance of monitoring both the non-paretic and paretic hand after stroke and during therapeutic intervention.

  • Dean PJ, O'Neill D, Sterr A. (2012) 'Post-concussion syndrome: Prevalence after mild traumatic brain injury in comparison with a sample without head injury.'. Informa Health Care Brain Injury, England: 26 (1), pp. 14-26.
    doi: 10.3109/02699052.2011.635354
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/327557/

    Abstract

    Primary objective: To compare the prevalence of persistent post-concussion syndrome (PCS; >1 year post-injury) in participants with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and those without head injury. Research design: A cross-sectional sample of 119 participants with mTBI and 246 without previous head injury. Methods: Online questionnaires collected data about post-concussion symptoms, cognitive failures, anxiety, depression, sleep behaviour and post-traumatic stress disorder. Variability within the sample was addressed by splitting by PCS diagnosis to create four groups: mTBI + PCS, mTBI-PCS, Control + PCS and Control-PCS. PCS was diagnosed using ICD-10 criteria in all groups, with controls not requiring previous head injury. Main outcomes and results: PCS was present to a similar extent in participants with no head injury (34%) compared to those with mTBI (31%). Only report of headaches, which could be caused by expectation bias, distinguished between mTBI + PCS and Control + PCS groups. In addition, significantly higher cognitive problems were observed in participants with mTBI compared with the control group. Conclusions: Persistent PCS, as currently defined, is not specific to mTBI. These data suggest that somatic and cognitive symptoms are most likely to be able to distinguish PCS after mTBI from that present in the general population. Further research is necessary into these factors in order to create more specific PCS diagnostic criteria.

  • Szameitat AJ, McNamara A, Shen S, Sterr A. (2012) 'Neural Activation and Functional Connectivity during Motor Imagery of Bimanual Everyday Actions.'. Public Library of Science PLoS One, United States: 7 (6)
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038506
  • Szameitat DP , Darwin CJ, Szameitat AJ, Wildgruber D, Sterr AM, Dietrich S, Alter K. (2011) 'Format characteristics of human laughter'. Elsevier Journal of Voice, 25 (1), pp. 32-37.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2009.06.010
  • Shen S, Sterr A. (2010) 'Analyzing diffusion tensor images with ghosting artifacts: the effects of direct and indirect normalization.'. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Netherlands: 28 (10), pp. 1507-1513.
    doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2010.06.010
  • Szameitat DP, Kreifelts B, Alter K, Szameitat AJ, Sterr A, Grodd W, Wildgruber D. (2010) 'It is not always tickling: distinct cerebral responses during perception of different laughter types.'. Neuroimage, United States: 53 (4), pp. 1264-1271.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.06.028
  • Sterr A, Shen S, Szameitat AJ, Herron KA. (2010) 'The role of corticospinal tract damage in chronic motor recovery and neurorehabilitation: a pilot study.'. Sage Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, United States: 24 (5), pp. 413-419.
    doi: 10.1177/1545968309348310
  • Shen S, Szameitat AJ, Sterr A. (2010) 'An improved lesion detection approach based on similarity measurement between fuzzy intensity segmentation and spatial probability maps.'. Magn Reson Imaging, Netherlands: 28 (2), pp. 245-254.
    doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2009.06.007
  • Kranczioch C, Mathews S, Dean P, Sterr A. (2010) 'Task Complexity Differentially Affects Executed and Imagined Movement Preparation: Evidence from Movement-Related Potentials'. PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE PLOS ONE, 5 (2) Article number ARTN e9284
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009284
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/713997/
  • Kranczioch C, Mathews S, Dean PJA, Sterr A. (2009) 'On the Equivalence of Executed and Imagined Movements: Evidence from Lateralized Motor and Nonmotor Potentials'. WILEY-BLACKWELL HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, 30 (10), pp. 3275-3286.
    doi: 10.1002/hbm.20748
  • Szameitat AJ, Shen S, Sterr AM. (2009) 'The functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) procedure as experienced by healthy participants and stroke patients – A pilot study'. BioMed Central BMC Medical Imaging, 9
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2342-9-14
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/639729/

    Abstract

    Background: An important aspect in functional imaging research employing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is how participants perceive the MRI scanning itself. For instance, the knowledge of how (un)comfortable MRI scanning is perceived may help institutional review boards (IRBs) or ethics committees to decide on the approval of a study, or researchers to design their experiments. Methods: We provide empirical data from our lab gained from 70 neurologically healthy mainly student subjects and from 22 mainly elderly patients suffering from motor deficits after brain damage. All participants took part in various basic research fMRI studies using a 3T MRI scanner. Directly after the scanning, all participants completed a questionnaire assessing their experience with the fMRI procedure. Results: 87.2% of the healthy subjects and 77.3% of the patients rated the MRI procedure as acceptable to comfortable. In healthy subjects, males found the procedure more comfortable, while the opposite was true for patients. 12.1% of healthy subjects considered scanning durations between 30 and 60 min as too long, while no patient considered their 30 min scanning interval as too long. 93.4% of the healthy subjects would like to participate in an fMRI study again, with a significantly lower rate for the subjects who considered the scanning as too long. Further factors, such as inclusion of a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan, age, and study duration had no effect on the questionnaire responses. Of the few negative comments, the main issues were noise, the restriction to keep still for the whole time, and occasional feelings of dizziness. Conclusion: MRI scanning in the basic research setting is an acceptable procedure for elderly and patient participants as well as young healthy subjects.

  • Szameitat AJ, Rummel J, Szameltat DP, Sterr A. (2009) 'Behavioral and emotional consequences of brief delays in human-computer interaction'. ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN-COMPUTER STUDIES, 67 (7), pp. 561-570.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2009.02.004
  • Szameitat DP, Alter K, Szameitat AJ, Wildgruber D, Sterr A, Darwin CJ. (2009) 'Acoustic profiles of distinct emotional expressions in laughter.'. J Acoust Soc Am, United States: 126 (1), pp. 354-366.
    doi: 10.1121/1.3139899
  • Sterr A, Shen S, Kranczioch C, Szameitat AJ, Hou W, Sorger B. (2009) 'fMRI effects of task demand and feedback accuracy on grip force tracking.'. Neurosci Lett, Ireland: 457 (2), pp. 61-65.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.04.013
  • Szameitat DP, Alter K, Szameitat AJ, Darwin CJ, Wildgruber D, Dietrich S, Sterr A. (2009) 'Differentiation of emotions in laughter at the behavioral level.'. Emotion, United States: 9 (3), pp. 397-405.
    doi: 10.1037/a0015692
  • Jehoel S, Sowden PT, Ungar S, Sterr A. (2009) 'Tactile elevation perception in blind and sighted participants and its implications for tactile map creation.'. SAGE journals Human Factors, United States: 51 (2), pp. 208-223.
    doi: 10.1177/0018720809334918
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/311000/

    Abstract

    To determine the optimal elevation of tactile map symbols. Background: Tactile perception research predicts that symbol elevation (vertical height) and texture on tactile maps could influence their readability. However, while research has shown that elevation influences detection and discrimination thresholds for single tactile stimuli, and that the physiological response of fingertip receptors varies with texture, little is known about the influence of these parameters on the identification of stimuli in the context of multiple symbols as found on tactile maps. Method: Sighted and visually impaired participants performed tactile symbol identification tasks. In Experiment 1, we measured the effect of elevation on identification accuracy. In Experiment 2, we measured the effect of elevation and symbol texture on identification speed. Results: Symbol elevation influenced both speed and accuracy of identification with thresholds being higher than found in work on detection and discrimination but lower than on existing tactile maps. Further, as predicted from existing knowledge of tactile perception, rough features were identified more quickly than smooth ones. Finally, visually impaired participants performed better than sighted ones. Conclusion: The symbol elevations necessary for identification (0.040 to 0.080 mm) are considerably lower than would be expected on the basis of existing tactile maps (generally 0.5 mm or higher) and design guidelines (0.4 mm). Application: Tactile map production costs could be reduced and map durability increased by reducing symbol elevation. Further, legibility of maps could be improved by using rough features, which are read more easily, and smaller symbols, which reduces crowding of graphics.

  • Sterr AM, Shen S, Kranczioch C, Hou W, Sorger B. (2009) 'Neural activities induced by tracking isometric grip force changes through visual feedback'. Neuroscience Letters, 457 (2), pp. 61-65.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.04.013
  • Szameitat AJ, Rummel J, Szameitat DP, Sterr AM. (2009) 'Detrimental Behavioral and Emotional Consequences of Brief Delays in Human-Computer Interaction'. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 67 (7), pp. 561-570.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2009.02.004
  • Hou W, van Loon M, Sterr A, Shen S, Szameitat AJ, Jiang Y, Zheng J. (2009) 'A behaviour study of the effects of visual feedback on fluctuating isometric force production with force tracking tasks'. International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 1 (4), pp. 367-381.
    doi: 10.1504/IJBET.2008.020067
  • Mou Z-X, Hou W-S, Zheng X-L, Wu X-Y, Shen S, Sterr AM, Peng C-L. (2009) 'fMRI observation of the effect of visual feedback gain on force production'. Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology, 25 (5), pp. 749-752.
  • Sterr A, Herron K, Dijk DJ, Ellis J. (2008) 'Time to wake-up: Sleep problems and daytime sleepiness in long-term stroke survivors'. Informa Healthcare Brain Injury, 22 (7-8), pp. 575-579.
    doi: 10.1080/02699050802189727
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/188332/

    Abstract

    Background and purpose: In work with chronic stroke patients the authors observed that patients frequently appear sleepy and often comment on their poor sleep. Sleep difficulties are frequently reported and indeed clinically recognized in the acute phase post-stroke, but little is known about the sleep and daytime sleepiness of chronic stroke patients with sustained disabilities. The latter, however, deserves clarification because sleep is a critical modulator of health, daytime performance and wellbeing. The present study therefore explored the sleep and sleepiness in a chronic stroke population with sustained physical deficits. Methods: An opportunity sample of 20 patients with chronic low-functioning hemiplegia (12 months) completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Compared to a normative healthy population, long-term stroke survivors reported poorer sleep and greater daytime sleepiness. Increased levels of sleepiness were associated with longer chronicity, whereas nocturnal sleep parameters were not. Conclusions: In line with clinical observations, stroke survivors with sustained physical disabilities report poorer sleep and experience greater levels of sleepiness. Further research in a larger cohort and including objective sleep measures is necessary to investigate the nature and scale of sleep difficulties and daytime sleepiness in more detail so that care and treatment strategies can be developed in due course.

  • Kranczioch C, Athanassiou S, Shen S, Gao G, Sterr A. (2008) 'Short-term learning of a visually guided power-grip task is associated with dynamic changes in EEG oscillatory activity'. Elsevier Clinical Neurophysiology, 119 (6), pp. 1419-1430.
    doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2008.02.011
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/714581/

    Abstract

    Objective: Performing a motor task after a period of training has been associated with reduced cortical activity and changes in oscillatory brain activity. Little is known about whether learning also affects the neural network associated with motor preparation and post movement processes. Here we investigate how short-term motor learning affects oscillatory brain activity during the preparation, execution, and post-movement stage of a force-feedback task. Methods: Participants performed a visually guided power-grip tracking task. EEG was recorded from 64 scalp electrodes. Power and coherence data for the early and late stages of the task were compared. Results: Performance improved with practice. During the preparation for the task alpha power was reduced for late experimental blocks. A movement execution-related decrease in beta power was attenuated with increasing task practice. A post-movement increase in alpha and lower beta activity was observed that decreased with learning. Coherence analysis revealed changes in cortico-cortical coupling with regard to the stage of the visuomotor task and with regard to learning. Learning was variably associated with increased coherence between contralateral and/or ipsilateral frontal and parietal, fronto-central, and occipital brain regions. Conclusions: Practice of a visuomotor power-grip task is associated with various changes in the activity of a widespread cortical network. These changes might promote visuomotor learning. Significance: This study provides important new evidence for and sheds new light on the complex nature of the brain processes underlying visuomotor integration and short-term learning. (c) 2008 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  • Sterr A, Dean P. (2008) 'Neural correlates of movement preparation in healthy ageing'. European Journal of Neuroscience, 27 (1), pp. 254-260.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05975.x
  • Shen S, Szameitat AJ, Sterr A. (2008) 'Detection of infarct lesions from single MRI modality using inconsistency between voxel intensity and spatial location - A 3-D automatic approach'. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Ieee Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, 12 (4), pp. 532-540.
    doi: 10.1109/TITB.2007.911310
  • Herron K, Dijk D, Ellis J, Sanders J, Sterr AM. (2008) 'Sleep correlates of motor recovery in chronic stroke: a pilot study using sleep diaries and actigraphy.'. Journal of Sleep Research, 17, pp. 103-103.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00690.x
  • Herron K, Dijk D, Ellis J, Sanders J, Sterr AM. (2008) 'Sleep actigraphy in brain injured patients with chronic low functioning upper limb hemiparesis'. Journal of Sleep Research, 17, pp. 102-102.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00690.x
  • Mou Z-X, Hou W-S, Zheng X-L, Wu X-Y, Shen S, Sterr AM, Peng C-L. (2008) 'An fMR1 based pilot study on the nerve excitability for force-regulating speed'. Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology, 24 (3), pp. 341-345.
  • Shen S, Szameitat AJ, Sterr A. (2007) 'VBM lesion detection depends on the normalization template: a study using simulated atrophy'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, 25 (10), pp. 1385-1396.
    doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2007.03.025
  • Szameitat AJ, Shen S, Sterr A. (2007) 'Motor imagery of complex everyday movements. An fMRI study'. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE NEUROIMAGE, 34 (2), pp. 702-713.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.09.033
  • Szameitat AJ, Shen S, Sterr A. (2007) 'Effector-dependent activity in the left dorsal premotor cortex in motor imagery'. European Journal of Neuroscience, 26 (11), pp. 3303-3308.
    doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2007.05.045
  • Sterr A, Shen S, Zaman A, Roberts N, Szameitat A. (2007) 'Activation of SI is modulated by attention: a random effects fMRI study using mechanical stimuli'. Neuroreport, 18 (6), pp. 607-611.
  • Mathews S, Dean PJA, Sterr A. (2006) 'EEG dipole analysis of motor-priming foreperiod activity reveals separate sources for motor and spatial attention components'. ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 117 (12), pp. 2675-2683.
    doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2006.08.001
  • Szameitat AJ, Lepsien J, von Cramon DY, Sterr A, Schubert T. (2006) 'Task-order coordination in dual-task performance and the lateral prefrontal cortex: an event-related fMRI study.'. Psychol Res, Germany: 70 (6), pp. 541-552.
    doi: 10.1007/s00426-005-0015-5
  • Sterr A. (2006) 'Preparing not to move: does no-response priming affect advance movement preparation processes in a response priming task?'. Biol Psychol, Netherlands: 72 (2), pp. 154-159.
    doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2005.09.002
  • Szameitat AJ, Lepsien J, von Cramon DY, Sterr A, Schubert T. (2006) 'Task-order coordination in dual-task performance and the lateral prefrontal cortex: an event-related fMRI study'. Psychological Research-Psychologische Forschung, 70 (6), pp. 541-552.
    doi: 10.1006/nimg.2002.1252
  • Sterr A, Herron KA, Hayward C, Montaldi D. (2006) 'Are mild head injuries as mild as we think? Neurobehavioral concomitants of chronic post-concussion syndrome.'. BMC Neurol, England: 6
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-6-7
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1708/

    Abstract

    Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can sometimes lead to persistent postconcussion symptoms. One well accepted hypothesis claims that chronic PCS has a neural origin, and is related to neurobehavioral deficits. But the evidence is not conclusive. In the attempt to characterise chronic MTBI consequences, the present experiment used a group comparison design, which contrasted persons (a) with MTBI and PCS, (b) MTBI without PCS, and (c) matched controls. We predicted that participants who have experienced MTBI but show no signs of PCS would perform similar to controls. At the same time, a subgroup of MTBI participants would show PCS symptoms and only these volunteers would have poorer cognitive performance. Thereby, the performance deficits should be most noticeable in participants with highest PCS severity.

  • Sterr A. (2006) 'Preparing not to move: Does no-response priming affect advance movement preparation processes in a response priming task?'. Biological Psychology, 72 (2), pp. 154-159.
    doi: 10.1016/S1053-8119(03)00295-7
  • Hou W, Zheng J, Jiang Y, Shen S, Sterr A, Szameitat AJ, Van Loon M. (2006) 'A behavior study of the effects of visual feedback on motor output'. Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology - Proceedings, , pp. 1273-1276.
    doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260622
  • Hou W-S, Wu X-Y, Zheng X-L, Shen S, Sterr AM. (2006) 'A behavior study on the effect of visual feedback gain to force production'. Chinese Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 25 (5), pp. 542-546.
  • Sterr A, Saunders A. (2006) 'CI therapy distribution: Theory, evidence and practice'. IOS PRESS NEUROREHABILITATION, 21 (2), pp. 97-105.
  • Sterr A, Szameitat A, Shen S, Freivogel S. (2006) 'Application of the CIT concept in the clinical environment - Hurdles, practicalities, and clinical benefits'. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL NEUROLOGY, 19 (1), pp. 48-54.
    doi: 10.1097/00146965-200603000-00006
  • Hou W, Zheng J, Jiang Y, Shen S, Sterr A, Szameitat AJ, van Loon M. (2006) 'A behavior study of the effects of visual feedback on motor output.'. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, United States: 1, pp. 1273-1276.
    doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260622
  • Sterr A, Herron KA, Hayward C, Montaldi D. (2006) 'Are mild head injuries as mild as we think? Neurobehavioral concomitants of chronic post-concussion syndrome'. Bmc Neurology, 6
    doi: 10.1016/S1388-2457(03)00258-X
  • Halder P, Sterr A, Brem S, Bucher K, Kollias S, Brandeis D. (2005) 'Electrophysiological evidence for cortical plasticity with movement repetition.'. Eur J Neurosci, France: 21 (8), pp. 2271-2277.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04045.x
  • Halder P, Sterr A, Brem S, Bucher K, Kollias S, Brandeis D. (2005) 'Electrophysiological evidence for cortical plasticity with movement repetition'. European Journal of Neuroscience, 21 (8), pp. 2271-2277.
    doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2004.09.036
  • Shen S, Sandham W, Granat M, Sterr A. (2005) 'MRI fuzzy segmentation of brain tissue using neighborhood attraction with neural-network optimization'. Ieee Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, 9 (3), pp. 459-467.
    doi: 10.1016/j.artmed.2004.01.012
  • Sterr A. (2004) 'Training-based interventions in motor rehabilitation after stroke: Theoretical and clinical considerations'. Behavioural Neurology, 15 (3-4), pp. 55-63.
    doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.35660
  • Sterr A. (2004) 'Training-based interventions in motor rehabilitation after stroke: theoretical and clinical considerations.'. Behav Neurol, Netherlands: 15 (3-4), pp. 55-63.
  • Sterr AM. (2004) 'Attention performance in young adults with learning disabilities'. Learning and Individual Differences, 14 (2), pp. 125-133.
  • Sterr A, Freivogel S. (2004) 'Intensive training in chronic upper limb hemiparesis does not increase spasticity or synergies'. Neurology, 63 (11), pp. 2176-2177.
  • Sterr A. (2004) 'Training-based interventions in motor rehabilitation after stroke: Theoretical and clinical considerations'. BEHAVIOURAL NEUROLOGY, 15 (3-4), pp. 55-63.
  • Sterr A, Freivogel S. (2003) 'Motor-improvement following intensive training in low-functioning chronic hemiparesis'. Neurology, 61 (6), pp. 842-844.
    doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.35660
  • Sterr A, Green L, Elbert T. (2003) 'Blind Braille readers mislocate tactile stimuli'. Biological Psychology, 63 (2), pp. 117-127.
  • Sterr A, Freivogel S, Schmalohr D. (2002) 'Neurobehavioral aspects of recovery: Assessment of the learned nonuse phenomenon in hemiparetic adolescents'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 83 (12), pp. 1726-1731.
    doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6
  • Sterr A, Elbert T, Berthold I, Kolbel S, Rockstroh B, Taub E. (2002) 'Longer versus shorter daily constraint-induced movement therapy of chronic hemiparesis: An exploratory study'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 83 (10), pp. 1374-1377.
    doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6
  • Sterr A, Freivogel S, Voss A. (2002) 'Exploring a repetitive training regime for upper limb hemiparesis in an in-patient setting: a report on three case studies'. Brain Injury, 16 (12), pp. 1093-1107.
  • Elbert T, Sterr A, Rockstroh B, Pantev C, Muller MM, Taub E. (2002) 'Expansion of the tonotopic area in the auditory cortex of the blind'. Journal of Neuroscience, 22 (22), pp. 9941-9944.
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1706/

    Abstract

    A part of the core area of the auditory cortex was examined in nine blind and10 sighted individuals by magnetic source imaging and was found to be enlarged by a factor of 1.8 in the blind compared with the sighted humans. Moreover, the latency of the N1m component of the auditory-evoked magnetic response was significantly decreased in the blind. The development of use-dependent cortical reorganization may be a consequence of the absence of visual input in combination with enhanced auditory activity generated by the long-term concentration by blind individuals on nonvisual cues to interact appropriately with the environment. It is consistent with and well suited to mediate the demonstrated increased ability of the blind to accurately localize acoustic sources in peripheral auditory fields and to decode speech.

  • Sterr A, Freivogel S, Schmalohr D. (2002) 'Neurobehavioral aspects of recovery: Assessment of the learned nonuse phenomenon in hemiparetic adolescents'. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 83 (12), pp. 1726-1731.
    doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.35660
  • Sterr A, Schmalohr D, Kolbel S, Freivogel S. (2001) 'Functional reorganization of motor areas following forced-use rehabilitation training in hemiparetic patients: A TMS study'. Biomedical Engineering, 46, pp. 102-108.
  • Sterr A, Schmalohr D, Kolbel S, Freivogel S. (2000) 'Transcranial magnetic stimulation-based investigation of motor cortex reorganization after repetitive training in brain-injured patients'. PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 37, pp. S95-S95.
  • Grunze H, Amann B, Schafer M, Sterr A, Schaerer L, Wild E, Walden J. (2000) 'Wirksamkeit, vertraglichkeit und praktikabilitat von valproat-miniretardtabletten bei bipolaren affektiven storungen'. Fortschritte der Neurologie Psychiatrie, 68 (11), pp. 496-502.
    doi: 10.1055/s-2000-10034
  • Röder B, Teder-Sälejärvi W, Sterr A, Rösler F, Hillyard SA, Neville HJ. (1999) 'Improved auditory spatial tuning in blind humans.'. Nature, ENGLAND: 400 (6740), pp. 162-166.
    doi: 10.1038/22106
  • Sterr A, Müller M, Elbert T, Rockstroh B, Taub E. (1999) 'Development of cortical reorganization in the somatosensory cortex of adult Braille students.'. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol Suppl, IRELAND: 49, pp. 292-298.
  • Rockstroh B, Clementz BA, Pantev C, Blumenfeld LD, Sterr A, Elbert T. (1998) 'Failure of dominant left-hemispheric activation to right-ear stimulation in schizophrenia.'. Neuroreport, ENGLAND: 9 (17), pp. 3819-3822.
  • Elbert T, Candia V, Altenmüller E, Rau H, Sterr A, Rockstroh B, Pantev C, Taub E. (1998) 'Alteration of digital representations in somatosensory cortex in focal hand dystonia.'. Neuroreport, ENGLAND: 9 (16), pp. 3571-3575.
  • Sterr A, Müller MM, Elbert T, Rockstroh B, Pantev C, Taub E. (1998) 'Perceptual correlates of changes in cortical representation of fingers in blind multifinger Braille readers.'. J Neurosci, UNITED STATES: 18 (11), pp. 4417-4423.
  • Sterr A, Müller MM, Elbert T, Rockstroh B, Pantev C, Taub E. (1998) 'Changed perceptions in Braille readers.'. Nature, ENGLAND: 391 (6663), pp. 134-135.
    doi: 10.1038/34322
  • Sterr A, Muller MM, Elbert T, Rockstroh B, Taub E. (1998) 'Expansion of cortical hand representation and tactile sensory thresholds in blind Braille readers: A link between cortical organization and perception'. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 12 (2), pp. 193-194.
  • Kolbel S, Elbert T, Rockstroh B, Sterr A, Jahn T, Taub E. (1998) 'Constraint-induced (CI) movement therapy in patients treated according to German rehabilitation programs'. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 12 (2), pp. 206-206.
  • Rockstroh B, Watzl H, Kowalik ZJ, Cohen R, Sterr A, Müller M, Elbert T. (1997) 'Dynamical aspects of the EEG in different psychopathological states in an interview situation: a pilot study.'. Schizophr Res, NETHERLANDS: 28 (1), pp. 77-85.
  • Elbert T, Sterr A, Flor H, Rockstroh B, Knecht S, Pantev C, Wienbruch C, Taub E. (1997) 'Input-increase and input-decrease types of cortical reorganization after upper extremity amputation in humans.'. Exp Brain Res, GERMANY: 117 (1), pp. 161-164.

Conference papers

  • Pieridi C, Brown D, Sterr A. (2012) 'The experience of returning to work following a traumatic brain injury'. INFORMA HEALTHCARE BRAIN INJURY, Edinburgh, UK: Ninth World Congress on Brain Injury 26 (4-5), pp. 625-625.
    doi: 10.3109/02699052.2012.660091
  • Dean PJA, Sato JR, Sterr A. (2012) 'The relationship between structural changes in mTBI and persistent PCS: DTI and cortical thickness analysis'. Edinburgh: Ninth World Congress On Brain Injury
  • Dean P, Sterr A. (2012) 'Long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury on cognitive performance'. BRAIN INJURY, Edinburgh, UK: Ninth World Congress on Brain Injury 26 (4-5), pp. 395-396.
    doi: 10.3109/02699052.2012.660091
  • Herron K, Dijk D-J, Dean P, Seiss E, Sterr A. (2009) 'EEG-DERIVED BIOMARKERS FOR DAYTIME SLEEPINESS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC STROKE'. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Berlin, GERMANY: 49th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Psychophysiological-Research 46, pp. S108-S108.
  • Herron K, Dijk D, Ellis J, Sanders J, Sterr A. (2008) 'Sleep actigraphy in brain injured patients with chronic low functioning upper limb hemiparesis'. Glasgow, SCOTLAND : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc Psychology: 19th Congress of the European-Sleep-Research-Society, pp. 102-102.
  • Herron K, Dijk D, Ellis J, Sanders J, Sterr A. (2008) 'Sleep correlates of motor recovery in chronic stroke: a pilot study using sleep diaries and actigraphy'. Glasgow, SCOTLAND : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc Psychology: 19th Congress of the European-Sleep-Research-Society, pp. 103-103.
  • Grossheinrich N, Reinl M, Mulert C, Pogarell O, Fast K, Karch S, Sterr A, Padberg F. (2007) 'Modulation of event-related potentials by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the prefrontal cortex'. San Diego, CA : Elsevier Science Inc Psychology: 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society-of-Biological-Psychiatry
  • Hou WS, Zheng J, Jiang YT, Shen S, Sterr A, Szatneitat AJ, van Loon M, Ieee . (2006) 'A behavior study of the effects of visual feedback on motor output'. New York, NY : Ieee Psychology: 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE-Engineering-in-Medicine-and-Biology-Society, pp. 4777-4780.
  • Sterr A, Dean PJA, Mathews S. (2006) 'Ageing in Motor Control: Behavioural and ERP correlates of Motor Priming in the Elderly.'. British Neuroscience Association Annual Meeting
  • Mathews S, Dean PJA, Harrison N, Williams N, Sterr A. (2005) 'Movement preparation and execution following a no-response pre-cue: A pilot study using behavioural and EEG data.'. Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Meeting
  • Elbert T, Sterr A, Rockstroh B, Charbonnier D, Flor H, Pantev C, Wienbruch C, Knecht S, Taub E. (2000) 'Cortical reorganization in arm amputees: Alterations of the somatosensory representation of the intact arm'. BIOMAG 96: PROCEEDINGS OF THE TENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOMAGNETISM, VOLS I & II, , pp. 999-1002.

Book chapters

  • Sterr A, K. Herron , Sanders JC. (2009) 'Constraint-induced movement therapy for restoration of Upper-Limb function'. in Soderback I (ed.) International Handbook of Occupational Therapy Interventions New York : Springer , pp. 309-316.
  • Sterr A, Dean PJA, Mathews S. (2008) 'Preparing the unlikely event - when no-response priming activates the motor system'. in Columbus F (ed.) Biological Psychology: New Research Hauppange, New York : Nova Science Publishers
  • Sterr A. (2007) 'Neuroplasticity'. in Gauggel S, Herrmann M (eds.) Handbook of Neurophysiology Berlin : Springer Verlag
  • Shen S, Sterr A, Szameitat A. (2005) 'A template effect study on voxel-based morphometry in Statistic Parametric Mapping'. in (ed.) 2005 27th Annual International Conference of the Ieee Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vols 1-7 New York : IEEE , pp. 3051-3054.
  • Hou WS, Shen S, Sterr A. (2005) 'An MRI compatible visual force-feedback system for the study of force control mechanics'. in (ed.) 2005 27th Annual International Conference of the Ieee Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vols 1-7 New York : IEEE , pp. 3687-3690.
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1712/

    Abstract

    Motor task experiments play an essential role in exploring the brain mechanisms of movement control, and visual force-feedback is an important factor in these motor experiments. In this paper, the authors proposed a visual force-feedback system suitable for neuroscience experiment. With this system, the force output produced by participants can be detected and recorded in real time, while force output was visually displayed as a feedback cue to the participants simultaneously. Furthermore, this force feedback system is MRI compatible, and can be used both in fMRI and ERP experiments. The proposed system has been applied in hand-grip tasks and finger movement experiments, which were designed to explore the relationship between force output and brain activation mode in normal subject and stroke patient. The results demonstrated that various force levels were well detected and visual feedback signals enabled the accomplishment of experiments with both fixed and variable target force levels.

  • Shen S, Sandham WA, Granat MH, Sterr A. (2005) 'Intensity non-uniformity correction of magnetic resonance images using a fuzzy segmentation algorithm'. in (ed.) 2005 27th Annual International Conference of the Ieee Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Vols 1-7 New York : IEEE , pp. 3035-3038.
  • Sterr A, Elbert T, Rockstroh B. (2002) 'Functional reorganization of the human cerebral cortex and its perceptual concommitants'. in Fahle M, Poggio T (eds.) Perceptual Learning Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA : MIT Press , pp. 125-144.

Posters

  • Harris LM, Dean PJA, McNamara A, Sterr A. (2010) Using 3T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Assess The Long Term Effects of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.. Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB. 1-7 May, 2010. Stockholm, Sweden.
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/244012/

    Abstract

    The present study explores the link between brain metabolites, PCS symptoms and cognitive ability in participants who have experienced an mTBI. Lactate has been previously been shown to be elevated in acute mTBI (Son, Park et al. 2000), however, 2 month post-incidence lactate levels had returned to normal. The present study suggests that PCS symptoms as well as metabolite abnormalities may persist. More specifically the data provides initial evidence for a link between the elevation of lactate and with severity of long-term PCS following mTBI. Poster presented in Session: Other Spectroscopy Methodology Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 18 (2010); p. 937. ISSN 1545-4428. Available at: http://www.ismrm.org/meetings-workshops/2010-annual-meeting-3/

  • Dean PJA, Sterr A. (2010) Post-Concussion Syndrome without head injury? A Survey Study (Poster 0588).. Eight World Congress On Brain Injury. Washington, DC on March 10-14, 2010
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/244011/

    Abstract

    Objectives According to ICD-10 or DSM-IV criteria Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS) requires a prior mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, PCS symptoms are non-specific and can also affect non-mTBI populations. Symptoms further overlap with other diagnoses, such as depression. Consequently, the degree to which PCS is specific to or caused by mTBI is still debated. With the present study we aim to investigate the nature of PCS in greater detail by looking whether PCS is specific to mTBI, and the extent to which these symptoms and related factors (depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness and cognitive failures) exist in the non-mTBI population. Method An online survey was sent to University staff and students. Included in this survey were the Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), along with demographic questions and those related to the mTBI sustained. PCS was diagnosed as 3 or more symptoms within DSM-IV criteria. Results The survey created a database of 375 entries, 127 for mTBI and 248 controls (no history of mTBI). Within these groups the proportion of individuals experiencing PCS symptoms was not statistically different (39% for mTBI, 32% for control; Chi squared p=0.2), and there was no group difference for the RPQ, HADS or ESS. However, respondents with a history of mTBI showed significantly higher CFQ scores (p<0.001) than controls. In contrast, when split by PCS diagnosis, those with PCS revealed significantly greater scores for all questionnaires (p<0.001). When split into subgroups (mTBI+PCS, mTBI-PCS, Control+PCS, Control-PCS), a similar pattern was observed. The two groups with PCS both had greater scores for the RPQ, CFQ and HADS than both groups without PCS (p<0.005). There was only one difference when comparing the two groups with mTBI to those without (CFQ: mTBI+PCS greater than Control+PCS (p<0.05)). The ESS score for Control+PCS was greater when compared to both groups without PCS (mTBI-PCS (p<0.01); Control-PCS (p<0.005)). Conclusions The study suggests that PCS is equally common in a self-selected sample of persons with and without brain injury. Data on depression, anxiety, cognitive failures and daytime sleepiness scores show no increase in those with mTBI, but are significantly higher in those with PCS. Analysis of the four subgroups revealed no interaction between mTBI and PCS. This suggests that

  • Hope C, Seiss E, Dean P, Sterr A. (2009) AN ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF GLUCOSE ADMINISTRATION EFFECTS ON SENSORIMOTOR PROCESSING IN A MODIFIED ERIKSEN FLANKER TASK. 49th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Psychophysiological-Research
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/327564/
  • Dean P, Seiss E, Sterr A. (2009) ADVANCE MOVEMENT PREPARATION IN HEMIPARETIC PATIENTS: ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INDICE. 49th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Psychophysiological-Research
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/327563/
  • Dean PJA, Sterr A. (2008) Advance movement preparation in hemiparetic patients: validity effects seen in a response priming task with the affected arm.. Seventh World Congress On Brain Injury, 9-12 April, 2008.Lisbon, Portugal.
    Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/244010/

    Abstract

    Poster presented at the Seventh World Congress On Brain Injury, 9-12 April, 2008.Lisbon, Portugal. Organised by The International Brain Injury Association. www.internationalbrain.org