Carolynn Patten, Ph.D., P.T., F.A.P.T.A.
Director, Biomechanics, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Lab
Co-Director, Center for Neuroengineering and Medicine
Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Locations and Contact
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y St. 4860 Y St.
Sacramento Sacramento, CA CA 95817 95817
Additional Numbers
Clinic Phone
Clinic Phone
Clinic Fax
Physician Referrals
Clinical Interests
Dr. Patten is a neuroscientist and physical therapist who specializes in assessment and treatment of motor dysfunction associated with aging and adult neuropathologies, such as stroke. She directs the UC Davis Biomechanics, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Lab and Co-Leads the UC Davis Center for Neuro Engineering and Medicine.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Patten's research focuses on understanding the neural basis of human movement with overriding goals of elucidating mechanisms of movement dysfunction with aging and in adult neuropathologies; determining capacity for motor recovery following central nervous system injury; and identifying critical factors that contribute to rehabilitation efficacy. To achieve these goals, her research program investigates neural mechanisms and biomechanical consequences of CNS pathologies causing motor dysfunction; development of biomarkers of motor recovery; and novel means to induce neuroplasticity and recovery. This translational neuroscience research combines expertise in neurophysiological (i.e., transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), EEG, EMG, motor unit recordings, reflex probes), neuroimaging, biomechanical (measures of force production, kinetics), behavioral (kinematics), and clinical approaches to study human performance, and as a result, crosses disciplines of motor control, neuroscience, biomechanics, clinical medicine, rehabilitation, and bioengineering. From a practical standpoint, Dr. Patten's research influences clinical care in neurorehabilitation and therefore helps individuals with motor dysfunction resulting from neuropathologies, such as stroke, maximize recovery, restore activity participation, and optimize quality of life.
Division
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.A., University of Washington, Seattle WA 1980
Medical School
M.S.P.T., Boston University, Boston MA 1992
Other School
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst MA 1998
Fellowship
Post-doctoral Fellowship, Stanford University, VA Rehab Research Center, Stanford/Palo Alto CA 1998-2001
Research Career Scientist, Rehabilitation Research and Development Services, Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2021-2025, Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2021
Research Career Scientist, Rehabilitation Research and Development Services, Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2015-2020, Department of Veteran's Affairs, 2015
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, University of Florida, 2015-2018, University of Florida, 2015
Research Career Scientist, VA Rehab R&D Service, 2010-2014, 2015
Catherine Worthingham Fellow, American Physical Therapy Assistant, 2016
Deans Citation Paper Award, College of Public Health and Health Professor, University of Florida, 2014
Ao D, Li G, Shourijeh MS*, Patten C, and Fregly BJ. EMG-driven musculoskeletal model calibration with wrapping surface personalization. IEEE Trans Neur Sys and Rehab Eng, accepted 08 Oct 2023.
Banks CL*, Patten C†. Development of an Assessment of Bilateral Locomotor Efficacy for Individuals Poststroke, Gait & Posture, 2023: 172-177; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.05.012. PMID: 37210850
Young BM, Holman EA, Cramer SC, STRONG Study Investigators. Rehabilitation Therapy Doses Are Low After Stroke and Predicted by Clinical Factors. Stroke. 2023 Feb; doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.041098. PMID:36734234
Srivastava S, Seamon BG, Patten C, Kautz SA. Relationship between parameters of body weight supported treadmill training and muscle activity patterns in post-stroke gait, Exp Br Res, 2023 Jan; 10.1007/s00221-023-06551-7, PMID: 36639543
Vega MM, Li G, Shourijeh MS, Ao D, Weinschenk RC, Patten C, Font-Llagunes JM, Lewis VO, Fregly BJ. Computational Evaluation of Psoas Muscle Influence on Walking Function Following Internal Hemipelvectomy with Reconstruction, Fron Bioeng Biotech, Biomechanics, 2022 Sep 28;10:855870. doi:10.3389/fbioe.2022.855870. PMID: 36246391. PMCID: PMC9559731
AO D, Vega MM, Shourijeh MS, Patten C, Fregly BJ. EMG-driven musculoskeletal model calibration with estimation of unmeasured muscle excitations via synergy extrapolation. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol, 2022; doi:10.3389/fbioe.2022.962959. PMID:36246391
Riazati S*, McGuirk TE, Perry ES, Sihanath WB*, Patten C†. Absolute Reliability of Gait Parameters Acquired with Markerless Motion Capture in Living Domains, Fron Hum Neurosci, 2022; doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.867474. PMID: 35782037
McGuirk TE, Perry ES, Sihanath WB*, Riazati S*, Patten C†. Markerless Motion Capture Enables Threedimensional Gait Assessment to Identify Rehabilitation Targets, Front. Hum. Neurosci., 09 June 2022; https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.867485. PMID: 3574772
Young DR*, Banks CL*, McGuirk TE, Patten C†. Evidence for Shared Neurophysiological Elements between Muscle Synergy Analysis and Corticospinal Efficacy, Scientific Reports, 2022 May 27; (12(1): 8953.doi:10.1038/s41598-022-12225-1. PMID:35624121
Li G, Shourijeh MS, Ao D, Patten C, Fregly BJ. How Well Do Commonly Used Co-Contraction Indices Approximate Lower Limb Joint Stiffness Trends during Gait? Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 07 January 2021; https://doi.org/10/3389/fbioe.2020.588908. PMID:33490046