TBD

This workshop is targeted to mid-career academics – approximately 5-15 years post PhD. In this tailored workshop, you will be guided through a series of activities designed to help you to: Thoughtfully reflect on your career journey, and identify personal values, strengths and drivers: Identify and then highlight how your values and strengths contribute to outcomes and your impact, at an individual, organisational unit, and University level (and beyond): Apply your values and strengths to craft a compelling career narrative that highlights your values, impact, and aspirations – across all areas of your academic career: Build upon your current academic network and interact with peers from other institutions at similar career stages who are navigating similar organisational structures Whether you are preparing to apply for promotion, positioning yourself for new opportunities, or just wanting to take time to reflect on your journey – we aim for this workshop to give you the tools to develop and communicate your unique value and showcase your contributions to your field, the University and wider society. Workshop participants will need to complete a (free online) pre-work quiz https://www.viacharacter.org prior to attending the workshop. This will take ~20 minutes, and the results are sent just to you. It will provide you with information to help you formulate your own strengths based narrative. We look forward to working with you.

This workshop continues the ISEK tradition of education in the identification of neural codes from surface high-density electromyograms (HDEMG) and extends it with the latest achievements in the fields of neuromuscular coupling assessment, movement augmentation, and technology transfer from research laboratories to everyday practice. Takeaway skill, knowledge or material that attendees will acquire: The attendees will gain the overview of the latest achievements in a) MU identification from HDEMG recorded in isometric, dynamic, explosive, and elicited contractions, b) stationary and nonstationary measures of corticomuscular coupling, and c) movement augmentation. Theoretical properties of methodologies discussed will be supplemented by the demonstration of results in different use-case scenarios.100-word presentation description from each presenter on their contribution: A. Holobar will describe the latest progress in the identification of MU discharge patterns, including the prediction of MU filters and tracking of MU across different contractions. He will focus on assessing contributions from unidentifiable MUs and analyzing anatomical and functional MU clusters. Finally, he will discuss the transfer of MU identification methodologies from research labs to clinical settings, sports science, and other everyday practices. J. Skarabot will present the challenges of estimating MU identification accuracy from HDEMG decomposition. The session will cover commonly used accuracy metrics (e.g., silhouette scores and pulse-to-noise ratios in experimental, and rate of agreement and F1 score in synthetic signals), their theoretical basis, and to what extent they truly reflect decomposition accuracy. Attendees will learn in which contexts these metrics (and the proposed “cut off” values) are suitable, where they may fail, and how to interpret them when working with signals recorded in different conditions.  N. Murks will present the state-of-the-art and latest methodological improvements in the corticomuscular coupling assessment. She will provide an overview of corticomuscular coherence techniques and their latest methodological improvements. She will discuss the alternative measures and describe the differences between the stationary and nonstationary measures of corticomuscular coupling. This will include the robustness, sensitivity, accuracy, and computational efficiency of different measures. D. Farina will present the latest achievements in interfacing motor neurons for prosthetic and assistive device control in individuals with spinal cord injury, as well as applications in virtual reality and human augmentation. He will discuss advances in decoding motor neuron activity from both high-density surface electromyography and novel intramuscular microelectrode arrays, highlighting how these developments bridge non-invasive and implantable interface technologies.

Microsurgery exemplifies human fine motor control at its limits. Surgeons manipulate tissue at submillimeter precision using microtools under magnified vision, relying on refined eye–hand coordination and dexterity. Even with robotic or digital assistance, final control lies in the hands of the operator. Efficient performance requires not only precise finger movements but also whole-body stability, fine postural control, and sustained attention. The exceptional skill, perseverance, and motivation required to master these techniques make microsurgery a distinctive model for studying sensorimotor control, learning, and performance in highly skilled professionals. This workshop brings together an interdisciplinary group of researchers and clinicians to examine how fine sensorimotor control is acquired, coordinated, and evaluated in microsurgical performance. By integrating perspectives from neuroscience, biomechanics, motor learning, and surgical education, the discussion moves beyond current approaches toward new methods for interpreting physiological behavior in microscale surgical performance. Together with attendees, we will explore emerging techniques in multimodal sensing, motion tracking, and computational modeling that contribute to objective, reproducible measures of skill acquisition and proficiency. The workshop is structured as a discussion around key themes presented by the invited speakers, spanning physiological, behavioral, and computational aspects of microsurgical performance. Ahmed Hussein, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon, Microsurgery Center of Eastern Finland, opens the session by characterizing the peculiarities of microsurgery in terms of physiological performance and operating environments. Shotaro Okajima, PhD, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, presents a customized sEMG sensor for the forearm and analyses results obtained during microsurgery. Matti Itkonen, PhD, University of Eastern Finland, explores variation in eye–hand coordination strategies during unimanual and bimanual tasks, providing insights into adaptive approaches to precision control. Hiroaki Iwase, MD, Hand Surgeon, Dept. of Human Enhancement and Hand Surgery, Nagoya University, discusses expert–novice differences in movement kinematics during simulated elbow arthroscopy, emphasizing how full-body posture and motion patterns support skillful performance. Hana Vrzakova, PhD, University of Eastern Finland, illustrates how dual eye-tracking of instructor–trainee pairs reveals coordination of attention and instrument movements that underpin training performance and skill transfer. Finally, Shintaro Oyama, MD, PhD, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Innovative Research Center for Preventive Medical Engineering, Nagoya University, presents future trends in microsurgery training, focusing on automatic, multimodal performance evaluation and AI-assisted, human-in-the-loop systems.

This workshop aims to provide participants with advanced practical skills in ultrasound imaging and its integration with high-density electromyography (HD-EMG) for a multimodal analysis of muscle neuromechanics. The session is designed for PhD students and early-career researchers interested in advanced assessment techniques in biomechanics and neuromuscular physiology. Through brief technical talks, live data collection, and hands-on demonstrations, attendees will gain practical experience with multimodal acquisition, synchronisation techniques, and introductory data-processing pipelines. Takeaway skills, knowledge, and materials: Participants will acquire: Hands-on experience with synchronising multiple devices during multimodal data collection: Tools and scripts for converting ultrasound files to video formats: Example code for fascicle tracking: Example code for dual-probe ultrasound merging: Practical knowledge for designing and executing combined HD-EMG + ultrasound studies

Dr Pincheira will introduce the principles of concurrent HD-EMG and ultrasound imaging, outlining key neuromechanical variables derived from each modality. His session will focus on ultrasound acquisition, probe alignment, dual-probe configurations, and practical workflows for fascicle tracking and merging multi-beam angle recordings. This segment provides the methodological foundation for the hands-on components. Dr Martínez-Valdés will present core HD-EMG acquisition principles, including electrode configuration and best practices for high-quality recordings. He will cover longitudinal repeated-measures designs, motor-unit tracking, decomposition pipelines, and approaches for linking motor-unit behaviour with ultrasound-derived mechanical variables, giving attendees an understanding of neuromuscular activation analysis. Prof Botter and Dr Cerone will introduce transparent-to-ultrasound HD-EMG electrodes, outlining their development, validation, and practical benefits for concurrent imaging. They will discuss electrode placement, signal-quality considerations, and integration with ultrasound probes, demonstrating how these electrodes enable simultaneous assessment of motor-unit activity and fascicle dynamics. Dr Hegyi will present a practical case study to demonstrate the application of concurrent HD-EMG and ultrasound in research. He will showcase methods for analysing regional muscle behaviour, tendon interaction and neuromechanical adaptations, guiding participants through real data to illustrate uses in biomechanics, injury risk, and rehabilitation research.

This workshop aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive, scientifically rigorous workflow for extracting and analysing the oscillatory components of the common synaptic input (CSI) from high-density surface EMG recordings. Because CSI estimation is highly sensitive to methodological choices made at each stage of the analysis pipeline, participants will learn how transparent and reproducible workflows are essential for producing valid and physiologically interpretable outcomes. The workshop will begin by presenting the latest methodological advancements in robust motor unit (MU) identification and spike-train validation, with particular emphasis on quality control for decomposition. Building on this, participants will learn how to calculate cumulative spike trains and estimate smoothed discharge rates with filtering and windowing strategies. The workshop will then progress to the computation and interpretation of coherence, focusing on the frequency bands relevant to CSI (delta, alpha and beta), and examining how particular decisions at the MU detection stage can affect coherence estimates. The workshop will conclude by integrating these steps into a reproducible openhdemg pipeline for CSI analysis that participants can directly reuse in their own research. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to independently perform robust and reproducible analysis of the shared oscillatory components of CSI, from MU detection to coherence computation and physiological interpretation. From the openhdemg website, participants will be able to access dedicated resources. Before the workshop, participants will access sample decomposed files, Python scripts, Python training, and instructions to follow the hands-on sections in real time. After the workshop, participants will receive all the material presented and discussed during the workshop, a recording of the presentation and access to a dedicated online discussion forum with continuous support from the openhdemg community.

Giacomo Valli will present the latest methodological developments in MU detection and validation and guide participants through the preparation steps for population-level analyses. Elmira Pourreza will show how to generate cumulative spike trains and smoothed discharge rates using appropriate filtering and windowing strategies. Hélio V. Cabral will present the estimation and interpretation of coherence, detailing how oscillatory shared synaptic inputs manifest across delta, alpha, and beta bands, and illustrating how analytical decisions made earlier in the workflow influence the final coherence outcomes and their physiological interpretation. Francesco Negro will contribute his extensive expertise in HDsEMG decomposition, neural drive and common synaptic input estimation by addressing key methodological pitfalls, demonstrating best practices to ensure analytical robustness, and serving as a moderator.

In the field of electromyography (EMG), a striking divide persists between the research‑rich world of surface EMG and the enduring clinical dominance of needle EMG. This workshop addresses this gap and invites clinicians and researchers to explore the opportunities and limitations of both surface and needle EMG, ultimately leading to an image of how to bridge them. Attendees will gain insight into why surface electromyography (EMG), despite its growth in both academic and technological fields, remains underutilized in everyday clinical practice. They will understand through real-world clinical experiences why needle EMG remains the gold standard in diagnostic settings and what information is clinically relevant.

Workshop Goals & Objectives: Map key conceptual and practical differences between surface and needle EMG. Explain why needle EMG remains the diagnostic standard and surface EMG’s practical limits. Present clinical examples showing effective surface EMG use and reasons for underuse. Foster discussion on translating EMG research—especially surface EMG—into clinical workflows. Give practical perspectives for integrating research advances into everyday patient care.

Take-away Skills/Knowledge: Understand strengths and limitations of surface vs. needle EMG in clinical decisions. Learn meaningful clinical use of surface EMG, with case examples and discussion of barriers. Gain frameworks for research–clinic alignment: designing relevant studies and evaluating EMG critically. See how EMG research informs diagnostic reasoning and rehabilitation planning. The Gold Standard Endures: Why Needle EMG Still Defines Clinical Practice Needle EMG dominates clinical diagnostics due to direct assessment of motor units and fibers, deep muscle access, and detection of signals like fibrillations that surface EMG cannot capture. This talk explains how workflow, training, and diagnostic needs shape this preference, and where research may overestimate surface EMG’s clinical relevance. HD-sEMG in Neuromuscular Disorders: What Do We Know? High-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) offers spatially detailed, non-invasive insight into motor unit recruitment and firing. This presentation reviews evidence in neuropathies, myopathies, and motor neuron diseases, including early translational use. Challenges—signal decomposition, reproducibility, and clinical validation—clarify HD-sEMG’s realistic role between research and routine practice. Surface EMG: Wrongly Neglected in Clinical Practice – Application Examples. This session highlights practical uses of surface EMG in rehabilitation, movement-analysis diagnostics, and wearable monitoring. Barriers to adoption—training, interpretation, standardization, reimbursement, and culture—are discussed.

High-quality signal acquisition is an essential step toward obtaining reliable, physiologically meaningful, and impactful scientific results. This workshop will provide theoretical and practical insights into acquiring HD-EMG and EEG signals in both standard and challenging conditions. Through examples and live demonstrations, participants will learn how to optimize the detection chain, minimize artifacts, and apply advanced technologies to ensure signal quality. The session will highlight innovative solutions and configurations enabling reliable recordings even in dynamic or unconventional contexts, broadening applications beyond traditional laboratory settings.

Authors Contributions: Giacinto Luigi Cerone will provide an overview of the principles and design of biomedical instrumentation for biopotential detection, with a focus on high-quality HD-EMG and EEG acquisition. His talk will cover the modeling of electrodes-skin interface, front-end amplifier design, and strategies to minimize interference and artifacts, highlighting recent technological advances and future perspectives for portable, multi-channel systems in dynamic and multi-modal applications.Alberto Botter will present recent advances in electrode technology for electrophysiological detection under challenging conditions. His contribution will focus on electrode design, materials, and configurations enabling reliable recordings from anatomically complex regions or during multi-modal (e.g. HD-EMG combined with US imaging) acquisitions combining electrophysiological, mechanical, and morphological measurements of the muscle under investigation.Harri Piitulainen will discuss EEG acquisition during dynamic and naturalistic movements. He will describe wireless EEG recordings to study brain activity during real-world motor behaviors (e.g. cross-country skiing), highlighting technical challenges to maintain high signal quality in such conditions. In addition to methodological aspects, he will describe physiologically relevant findings that illustrate how such approaches advance our understanding of brain function during naturalistic movements.Eduardo Martinez-Valdes will focus on the assessment of neuromechanical interactions through HD-EMG. His presentation will address the methodological challenges of multimodal acquisitions of HD-EMG and ultrasound and show how this approach can be used to explore the interplay between neural activation and muscle mechanics, providing new insights into neuromechanical coupling during motor tasks.Gregory Pearcey will present recent work using intramuscular multichannel electrode arrays combined with surface HD-EMG during dynamic tasks. He will discuss methodological considerations, signal quality challenges, and preliminary findings from this emerging approach, emphasizing its potential for studying motor unit activity during complex movements.