Biography
Strick's research focuses on four major topics: the motor areas of the cerebral cortex, specifically in movement and control, as well as in motor skill acquisition and retention; the motor, cognitive, and affective functions of the basal ganglia and cerebellum; the neural basis for the mind-body connection; and unraveling the complex neural networks that make up the central nervous system.
Experiments in Strick’s laboratory led to major modifications in the widely held view of the primary motor cortex as the main cortical area that projects to the spinal cord and generates movement, with other brain regions only influencing motor output through the primary motor cortex.
His most recent work traces the neural circuitry between motor and affective regions of the brain to other organs, possibly explaining how “psychosomatic” conditions arise and suggesting treatment targets for a variety of disorders.