Isaac Kurtzer studies how the nervous system enables coordinated actions, in particular actions with our upper limb. His research has spanned proprioception, postural anticipation, motor learning, stretch reflexes, and cortical processing. He is currently focused on the process of target re-selection during movement like how we can reliably navigate through a crowded and bustling train station. He trains undergraduate and graduate students on experimental design and data collection and analysis, in addition to teaching a biostatistics course, lectures on the nervous system, and directing the neuroanatomy lab. He is an active member of the movement science community through his own work, reviewing, and research collaborations.
Kurtzer received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Brandeis University, master’s degree in Cognition and Neuroscience at University of Texas at Dallas, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Principle Research Projects
- Re-selection of visual targets during movement
Recent Projects/Research
- Multi-joint reflexes of the human upper limb
- Anticipatory postural control
Publications
- Tanis D, Calalo JA, Cashaback JGA, Kurtzer IL. (2023) Accuracy and effort costs together lead to temporal asynchrony of multiple motor commands. J Neurophysiol. 129:1-6.
- Gallagher R, Perez S, DeLuca D, Kurtzer I. (2021) Anticipatory weight shift between arms when reaching from a crouched posture. J Neurophysiol. 126:1361-1374.
- Herter TM, Kurtzer I, Granat L, Crevecoeur F, Dukelow SP, Scott SH. (2021) Interjoint coupling of position sense reflects sensory contributions of biarticular muscles. J Neurophysiol. 125:1223-1235.
- Kurtzer IL, Muraoka T, Singh T, Prasad M, Chauhan R, Adhami E (2020) Reaching movements are automatically redirected to nearby options during target split. J Neurophysiol. 124:1013-1028.
- Muraoka T, Kurtzer I (2020) Spinal circuits mediate a stretch reflex between the upper limbs in humans. Neuroscience. 431:115-127.
- Kurtzer I (2015) Long-latency reflexes account for limb biomechanics through several supraspinal pathways. Frontiers of Integrative Neuroscience. 8: 99.
- Kurtzer I, Crevecoeur F, and Scott SH. (2014) Fast feedback control involves two independent processes utilizing knowledge of limb dynamics. Journal of Neurophysiology. 111: 1631-1645.
- Crevecoeur F, Kurtzer I, Bourke T, and Scott SH. (2013) Feedback responses rapidly scale with the urgency to correct for external disturbances. Journal of Neurophysiology. 110: 1323-1332.
- Kurtzer I, Trautman P, Rasquina, R, Bhanpuri N, Scott SH, and Bastian AJ. (2013) Cerebellar damage diminishes long-latency responses to multi-joint perturbations. Journal of Neurophysiology. 109: 2228- 2241.
- Pruszynski JA, Kurtzer I*, Nashed J, Omrani M. Brouwer B, and Scott SH. (2011) Primary motor cortex underlies multi-joint integration for fast feedback control. Nature 478:387-390. (co-1st author)
View a complete list of publications
Courses Taught at New York Tech
- MMPU710 - Concepts, Practice and Issues in Biostatistics
- LBD 506: Nervous System and Behavior
- External anatomy of spinal cord, cerebellum, and brainstem
- General sensory systems
- Internal anatomy of the spinal cord
- Motor systems – basal ganglia
- Motor systems – cerebellum
- Motor systems – pyramidal tract
- Peripheral autonomic nervous system
- Brainstem Organization - I and II
- Cranial Nerve Nuclei - I and II