PhD Work | Mysite

In the early stages of learning, the desired ideal movement states are unclear for a novice, and the ultimate learning goal is to discover what it feels like to do well through trial and error, such that successful movements will be reinforced. My PhD work explored how the brain learned a new skill through refining somatosensory states, using a combination of empirical evidence and neuroimaging tools. Using resting-state functional MRI, I examined changes in brain connectivity, particularly involving sensorimotor areas and reward-related networks. I also investigated the role of working memory (WM) in motor learning, specifically focusing on sensory WM related to arm configurations. I found that sensory WM predicts the extent of motor learning, while other WM types, like verbal and spatial memory don't. Successful movements are reinforced through trial and error, improving subsequent performance.

awards

I was awarded graduate scholarships from McGill Psychology and IPN Graduate Program:

CRBLM Travel Award (2018)
Teaching Assistant Award, Psychology (2018)
Returning Student Fellowship, IPN (2016)
Research Mobility Award - FSL training, Oxford-FMRIB (2013)
Molson & Hilton Hart Fellowship (2012)
Graduate Excellence Award in Neurology & Neurosurgery (2012-2015)
Graduate Excellence Award in Psychology (2012-2015)

publications

journal articles

Sidarta, A., Komar, J., & Ostry, D.J. (2022). “Clustering analysis of movement kinematics in reinforcement learning”. Journal of Neurophysiology, 127(2), 341–353.
Sidarta A., VanVugt FT, Ostry DJ (2018). “Somatosensory working memory in reinforcement-based motor learning". Journal of Neurophysiology, 120.6 (2018): 3275-3286.
Sidarta A., Vahdat S., Bernardi N., Ostry DJ (2016). “Somatic and reinforcement-based plasticity in the initial stages of motor learning”. Journal of Neuroscience. 36:11682-11692.

conference abstracts

Sidarta A., Kumar N., Manning TF, Ostry DJ (2018). “Suppression of lateral prefrontal cortex impairs somatosensory working memory”. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, San Diego (US).
Kumar N., Manning TF, Sidarta A., Ostry DJ (2018). “Somatosensory but not Primary Motor Cortex is involved in the consolidation of motor memory”. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, San Diego (US).
A Thiel, S Vahdat, M Darainy, D Ostry, A Sidarta. (2018). "Robot assisted proprioceptive training for improving motor function after stroke". Cerebrovascular Diseases, 45, 41-41.
Sidarta A., Bergeron K., VanVugt FT, Ostry DJ (2018). “The relationship between somatosensory working memory and human motor learning”. Poster presented for the Neural Control of Movement meeting, Sante Fe (US).
Sidarta A., VanVugt FT, Bernardi NF, Ostry DJ (2017). “Relation of proprioceptive working memory to human motor learning”. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Washington DC (US).
Sidarta A., Vahdat S., Bernardi NF, Ostry DJ (2016). “The incentive of success: Plasticity in the initial stages of motor learning”. Poster presented for the 1st NeuroSymposium Quebec 2016 – Montreal (CA).
Sidarta A., Bernardi NF, Vahdat S., Ostry DJ (2015). “Neural substrates of the initial stages of human motor learning”. Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Chicago (US).
Bernardi NF, Darainy M, Sidarta A, Ostry DJ (2014). “The contribution of somatosensory perceptual learning to human motor skill acquisition.” Poster presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, Washington DC (US).

teaching assistantship

Duties: Lead weekly conferences, grade midterm & final exams, hold office hours, and answer emails.

Introduction to Statistics: descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, linear regression, probability, hypothesis tests and non-parametric tests, introductory SPSS labs.
Statistics for Experimental Design: basic factorial design, types of analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Sensorimotor Behaviour: neuroanatomy, functional division, and behavior of the sensorimotor system.
Sensory Perception: psychometric studies, sensory processing of the five senses.
Introduction to Behavioural Neuroscience: overview of the CNS, neurotransmitters, neurological basis of five senses, human movements, sleep, disorders of the nervous system.

public activities

I was the graduate student member of the following:

Society for Neuroscience
Society for Neural Control of Movement
American Society for Neurorehabilitation

During this period, my professional and public engagements included the following:

BrainReach Montreal - an initiative to introduce neuroscience to elementary schools.
McGill Choral Society - member (bass)
International Student Services - buddy volunteer