Underlying mechanisms of motor control and motor learning
Development of evidence-based interventions for the treatment of neurological injuries
Non-invasive neuromodulation (TMS, tDCS, tACS)
Education
2022: Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University
2021: Graduate Certificate in Translational Science, Pennsylvania State University
2018: O.T.D. in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis
2014: B.A. in Movement & Exercise Science, University of Northern Iowa
Certifications
Virginia Occupational Therapy License
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
Grants
Dexheimer (K12 Scholar), 2025 – 2026 “Do underlying mechanisms of handedness affect early fine motor deficits in Parkinson’s Disease?” Virginia Commonwealth University C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center K12 Mentored Career Development Award NIH NCATS K12 TR004364 Role: K12 Scholar
Sainburg & Tunik (MPI), 2024 – 2029 “Lateralization of posterior-parietal cortex contributions to motor learning” NIH NINDS R01 NS139424 Role: Co-Investigator
Dexheimer & Krusienski (co-PIs), 2024 – 2025 “Altering sensory perception in virtual reality to elicit naturalistic movements” Virginia Commonwealth University Quest Grant
Dexheimer (PI), 2023 – 2025 “A novel method of quantifying lateralized fine motor impairments in Parkinson’s Disease” Shirley Ryan AbilityLab C-STAR (Center for Smart Use of Technologies to Assess Real World Outcomes)
Selected Publications
Dexheimer, B., Sainburg, R. When the non-dominant arm dominates: the effects of visual information and task experience on speed-accuracy advantages. Exp Brain Res 239, 655–665 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-06011-6
Maenza, C., Sainburg, R.L., Varghese, R., Dexheimer, B., Demers, M., Bishop, L., Jayasinghe, S.A., Wagstaff, D.A. & Winstein, C. Ipsilesional arm training in severe stroke to improve functional independence (IPSI): phase II protocol. BMC Neurol 22, 141 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02643-z
Dexheimer, B., Przybyla, A., Murphy, T.E., Akpinar, S. & Sainburg, R.L. Reaction time asymmetries provide insight into mechanisms underlying dominant and non-dominant hand selection. Exp Brain Res 240, 2791–2802 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-022-06451-2
Dexheimer, B., Sainburg, R., Sharp, S., Philip, B.A. (2024). Roles of Handedness and Hemispheric Lateralization: Implications for Rehabilitation of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems: A Rapid Review. Am J Occup Ther 78(2), 7802180120. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050398
Kitchen, N.M.*, Dexheimer, B.*, Yuk, J., Maenza, C., Ruelos, P.R., Kim, T. and Sainburg, R.L. (2024), The complementary dominance hypothesis: a model for remediating the ‘good’ hand in stroke survivors. J Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP285561 *Denotes equal contribution to this work
Selected Abstracts
Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., Jayasinghe, S.A.L., Kantak, S., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, July). Anodal (excitatory) HD-tDCS demonstrates a contralateral role of the left posterior parietal cortex in interlimb transfer of learning. Poster session, Occupational Therapy Summit of Scholars. Madison, WI.
Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., Jayasinghe, S.A.L., Kantak, S., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, November). Anodal (excitatory) HD-tDCS demonstrates a contralateral role of the left posterior parietal cortex in interlimb transfer of learning. Poster session, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Kitchen, N., Dexheimer, B., Sandberg, C.W., Selby, K., & Sainburg, R.L. (2022, November). The interaction of hand and hemisphere on interlimb transfer of visuomotor learning: An anodal HD-tDCS study targeting posterior parietal cortex. Poster session, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.
Sharp, S., Dexheimer, B. (2024, April). Examining the effect of non-invasive brain stimulation on hemispheric lateralization of motor learning during a functional fine motor task. Poster session, American Occupational Therapy Association Inspire. Orlando, FL.
Sharp, S., Manning, J., Pidcoe, P., & Dexheimer, B. (2024, April). Investigating the lateralized role of posterior parietal cortex for fine motor control during a tablet-based tracing task using HD-tDCS. Poster session, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Neurorehabilitation. San Antonio, TX.
