Dr. Satyajit Ambike

Associate Professor
Department of Health and Kinesiology

Contact

Lambert Fieldhouse, Room 110B
(765) 496-0567
sambike@purdue.edu
Website @ Purdue

Education

PhD, Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University
MS, Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University
BE, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pune

Research Interests

Human locomotion; Prehension; Biomechanics; Motor control; Dynamical systems; Mechanism synthesis

Google scholar profile

Researchgate

Research description

Dr. Ambike studies movement in biological systems. He currently focuses on human prehension (manual behavior) and locomotion across the adult age span. He is interested in how aging influences stability of various movements, and how stability and maneuverability - two antagonistic movement attributes - are traded off in activities of daily living. His current projects are (a) quantifying manual dexterity, (b) measuring and modeling mechanics at the fingertip-object interface, and (c) quantifying synergistic control of adaptive locomotion.

Current research projects

Selected Publications

Altenburger P, Ambike S & Haddad JM (2023) Integrating Motor Variability Evaluation into Movement System Assessment. Physical Therapy, pzad075, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzad075

Kulkarni A, Cui C, Rietdyk S & Ambike S (2023) Humans prioritize walking efficiency or walking stability based on environmental risk. PLoS One, 18(4): e0284278

Villanueva A, Jang S, Stuerzlinger W, Ambike S & Ramani K (2023) Advanced Modeling Method for Quantifying Cumulative Subjective Fatigue in Mid-Air Interaction. Int J Hum-Comp Stud, 169:102931

Rietdyk S, Ambike S, Amireault S, Haddad JM, Ling G, Newton D & Richards EA (2022) Co-occurrences of fall-related factors in adults aged 60 to 85 years in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PLoS One, 17(11):e0277406

Kulkarni A, Cui C, Rietdyk S & Ambike S (2022) Between a walk and a hard place: How stepping patterns change while navigating environmental obstacles. Motor Control, 27(1):20-34. doi: doi.org/10.1123/mc.2022-0045.

Naik A & Ambike S (2022) Expectation of volitional arm movement has prolonged effects on the grip force exerted on a pinched object. Experimental Brain Research, 240:2607-2621. doi: doi.org/10.1007/s00221-022-06438-z.

Song J, Kim K, Ambike S & Park J (2022) Hierarchical and synergistic organization of control variables during the multi-digit grasp of a free and an externally fixed object. Human Movement Science, 85:102994

Cui C, Kulkarni A, Rietdyk S & Ambike S (2022) Locomotion control during curb descent: bilateral ground reaction variables covary consistently during double support phase regardless of future foot placement constraints. PLoS One, 17(10):e0268090

Ambike S (2021) Dynamics and stability of task-specific manifolds: Comment on ‘Laws of Nature that Define Biological Action and Perception’ by Mark L. Latash. Physics of Life Reviews, 37:3-4

Kulkarni A, Cho H, Rietdyk S & Ambike S (2021) Step length synergy is weaker in older adults during obstacle crossing. Journal of Biomechanics, 118:110311

Ambike S, Penedo T, Kulkarni A, Santinelli FB & Barbieri F (2021) Step length synergy while crossing obstacles is weaker in patients with Parkinson’s disease, Gait and Posture, 84:340-345

Cui C, Muir B, Rietdyk S, Haddad JM, van Emmerik R & Ambike S (2021) Sensitivity of the toe height to multi-joint angular changes in the lower limbs during unobstructed and obstructed gait, Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 37(3):224-232

Cui C, Kulkarni A, Rietdyk S, Barbieri F & Ambike S (2020) Synergies in the ground reaction forces and moments during double support in curb negotiation in young and older adults, Journal of Biomechanics, 106:109837

Naik A & Ambike S (2020) The coordination between digit forces is altered by anticipated changes in prehensile movement patterns, Experimental Brain Research, 238:1145–1156

Tillman M & Ambike S (2020) The influence of recent actions and anticipated actions on the stability of finger forces during a tracking task, Motor Control, 24:365-382

Tillman M & Ambike S (2018) Expectation of movement generates contrasting changes in multifinger synergies in young and older adults. Experimental Brain Research, 263:2765-2780

Ambike S, Mattos D, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2018) Systematic, unintended drifts in cyclic force produced with the fingertips. Motor Control, 22:82–99

Tillman M & Ambike S (2018) Cue-induced changes in the stability of finger-force production tasks revealed by the uncontrolled-manifold analysis. Journal of Neurophysiology, 119:21-32

Jang S, Stuerzlinger W, Ambike S & Ramani K (2017) Modeling Cumulative Arm Fatigue in Mid-Air Interaction based on Perceived Exertion and Kinetics of Arm Motion. Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Boulder, CO.

Singh T & Ambike S (2017) A soft-contact model for computing safety margins in human prehension. Human Movement Science, 55:307-314

Ambike S, Mattos D, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2016) Unsteady steady states: Central causes of unintentional force drifts, Experimental Brain Research, 234:3597-3611

Parsa B, Ambike S, Terekhov A, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2016) Analytical Inverse Optimization in Two-Hand Prehensile Tasks, Journal of Motor Behavior, 48:424-434

Ambike S, Mattos D, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2016) Synergies in the space of control variables within the equilibrium-point hypothesis, Neuroscience, 315:150-161

Singh T & Ambike S (2015) A soft-contact and wrench-based approach to study grasp planning and execution, Journal of Biomechanics, 48:3961-7

Ambike S, Mattos D, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2015) The nature of constant and cyclic force production: Unintentional force-drift characteristics, Experimental Brain Research, 234:197-208

Jo HJ, Ambike S, Lewis MM, Huang X & Latash ML (2015) Finger force changes in the absence of visual feedback in patients with Parkinson’s disease, Clinical Neurophysiology, 127:684-692

Ambike S, Zhou T, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2015) Moving a hand-held object: Reconstruction of referent coordinate and apparent stiffness trajectories, Neuroscience, 298:335-356

Ambike S, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2015) Processes underlying unintentional finger force changes in the absence of visual feedback, Experimental Brain Research, 233:711-721

Ambike S, Paclet F, Zatsiorsky VM & Latash ML (2014) Factors affecting grip force: Anatomy, mechanics, and referent configurations, Experimental Brain Research, 232:1219-1231

Ambike S & Schmiedeler JP (2013) The leading joint hypothesis for spatial reaching arm motions, Experimental Brain Research, 224:591-603

Ambike S, Schmiedeler JP & Stanisic MM (2011) Trajectory Tracking Via Independent Solutions to the Geometric and Temporal Tracking Subproblems, ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, 3(2):021008- 1-12

Ambike S & Schmiedeler JP (2008) A methodology for implementing the curvature theory approach to path tracking with planar robots, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 43:1225-1235

Selected Presentations

Cui C, Kulkarni A, Rietdyk S, & Ambike S (2022). Age-related difference in margin of stability
during curb descent in response to a subsequent precision stepping demand. World Congress
of the International Society for Gait and Posture Research (ISPGR), Montreal, Canada.

Kulkarni A, Cui C, Rietdyk S, & Ambike S (2022). Anterior-posterior margin of stability is modulated to improve either efficiency or balance based on task demands. Dynamic Walking,
Madison, WI. [Watch video]

Naik A, Ambike S (2021). Humans modulate gripping forces on a stationary, handheld object
in response to mere expectation of rapid movement. 50th Annual meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience (SFN), Chicago, IL.

Cui C, Yang Z, Rietdyk S, Ambike S (2021). Coordination between Vertical Ground Reaction
Forces during Double Support is Different for Stair Ascent vs. Descent. Virtual Meeting of the
American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), Atlanta, GA.

Naik AS, Ambike S (2020). Should I stay or should I go? Stability of digit forces is lowered
to enhance maneuverability when expecting to move a pinched object. American Society of
Biomechanics, Atlanta, GA, August 4-7.

Cui C, Muir B, Rietdyk S, Haddad J, van Emmerik R, Ambike S (2020). Sensitivity of Toe
Height to Joint Angles of the Bipedal Linked Chain during Obstacle Crossing. American
Society of Biomechanics, Atlanta, GA, August 4-7.

Tillman MA, Ambike S (2019). The stability of the current motor state is influenced by expected
movement: Do cognitive events during the inter-stimulus interval of choice reaction time
tasks have a motor counterpart? Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, October 19-23.

Cui C, Cho H, Kulkarni A, Rietdyk S, Barbieri FA, Ambike S (2019). Synergistic ground reaction
forces during double support while negotiating a curb. World Congress of the International
Society for Gait and Posture Research, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 30-July 4.

Tillman M, Ambike S (2019). Effects of Past and Future Motor Actions on Present Multifinger
Pressing Behavior. International Society of Biomechanics/American Society of Biomechanics,
Calgary, Canada, July 31- August 4.

Cui C, Muir B, Haddad JM, van Emmerik R, Rietdyk S, & Ambike S (2018). Lower limb joint angle variance as a function of obstacle height during obstacle crossing. American Society of Biomechanics, Rochester, MN, August 8-11

Tillman M, & Ambike S (2018). Mechanisms of preparation for task switching in a finger pressing task. American Society of Biomechanics, Rochester, MN, August 8-11

Tillman M, & Ambike S (2017). Reduction in stability of manual behavior in uncertain conditions. Poster presented at American Society of Biomechanics, Boulder, CO, USA, August 8-12

Ambike S, Zhou T, Zatsiorsky VM, & Latash ML (2014). Reconstruction of hand and grip referent trajectories during vertical oscillation of a hand-held object. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience, Washington DC, USA, November 15-19

Ambike S, Schmiedeler JP, & Stanisic MM (2010). Geometric, Spatial Path Tracking Using Non-Redundant Manipulators via Speed-Ratio Control. International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC/CIE 2010, Montreal, Canada, August 2010

Ambike S, Schmiedeler JP, & Stanisic MM (2010). Using Redundancy in Serial Planar Mechanisms to Improve Output-Space Tracking Accuracy. 12th International Symposium on Advances in Robot Kinematics, Piran-Portoroz, Slovenia, July 2010

Current Students

Ruchika Iqbal (Health and Kinesiology)
Expected Degree: PhD

Past Students

Anvesh Naik (PhD - 2023)

Dissertation Title: Hand-Specific Specialization of Grip Force Control in Bimanual Prehension
Current Position (2023): Post Doctoral Scholar, Zukerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, NY

Ashwini Kulkarni (PhD - 2023)

Dissertation Title: Adaptations to the Foot Placement Strategy while Walking Through Cluttered Environments
Current Position (2023): Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Old Dominion University, VA

Chuyi Cui (PhD - 2022)

Dissertation Title: Stability Control During Double Support Phase of Adaptive Locomotion: Effect of Age and Environmental Demands
Current Position (2022): Post doctoral scholar, Stanford University, Neurology and Neurological Sciences

Mitchell Tillman (MS - 2019)

Thesis Title: Effects of past and future events on present motor stability, and relationships with motor and cognitive flexibility
Current Position (2019): PhD student, Stevens Institute of Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (MS - 2019)

Thesis Title: Interactions between fingers during rapid force pulse production

Paige Thompson (MS - 2021)

Thesis Title: Stability modulation in finger force production tasks
Current Position (2021): PhD student, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University