Dr. Kukke's broad research interest is in the way sensation and movement are coupled and controlled in humans. She is particularly interested in the sense of touch, and how it guides movement of the upper extremity. Her research seeks to explore ways by which enhanced tactile sensation can lead to behavioral changes, primarily in hand use, and correlated neurophysiological changes, measurable using electroencephalography (EEG). Dr. Kukke is also interested in understanding mechanisms of impaired sensorimotor control in individuals with childhood-onset brain injuries, and translating research findings on tactile-motor control of the hand to improve functional movements in this clinical population. She is a member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, the Neural Control of Movement Society, and the Society for Neuroscience.
