Kevin Keenan, Ph.D.  

Assistant Professor  

Interests and Expertise
Dr. Keenan's work is dedicated to understanding the neural control of complex neuromuscular systems (e.g., the human hand). Towards this end, he employs
a synergy of experimental and computational techniques. For example, by recording intramuscular EMGs from all seven muscles of the index finger, he is examining the coordination pattern (i.e., relative activations among muscles) used to perform both "simple" (e.g., index finger abduction/flexion) and "complex" (e.g., hybrid motion-force) tasks. These experimental procedures in turn inform theoretical work to characterize neuromuscular function through experimentally-valid neuromuscular computer models.

Recent Publications
Keenan KG, Ashley D, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Maximal voluntary force production is not limited by voluntary movement speed in combined motion and force tasks. Submitted.

Jesunathadas M, Aidoor SS, Keenan KG, Farina D, Enoka RM. Influence of amplitude cancellation on the accuracy of determining the onset of muscle activity from the surface electromyogram, Submitted.

Keenan KG, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Epoch length to accurately estimate the amplitude of interference EMG is likely the result of unavoidable amplitude cancellation. Biomed Signal Process Control, 3: 154-162, 2008.

Shinohara M, Keenan KG, Enoka RM. Fluctuations in motor output of a hand muscle can be altered by the mechanical properties of the position sensor. J Neurosci Methods 2 168: 164-73, 2008.

Keenan KG, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Experimentally valid predictions of muscle force and EMG in models of motor unit function are most sensitive to neural properties. J Neurophysiol 98: 1581-1590, 2007.

Keenan KG, Farina D, Meyer F, Merletti R, Enoka RM. Sensitivity of the cross-correlation between simulated surface EMGs for two muscles to detect motor unit synchronization. J Appl Physiol 102(3):1193-201, 2007.

Keenan KG, Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka RM. Amplitude cancellation reduces the size of motor unit potentials averaged from the surface EMG. J Appl Physiol 100: 1928-1937, 2006.

Keenan KG, Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka RM. Influence of motor unit properties on the size of the simulated evoked surface EMG potential. Exp Brain Res 169: 37-49, 2006.

Shinohara M, Keenan KG, Enoka RM. Fluctuations in motor output during steady contractions are weakly related across contraction types and between hands. Muscle Nerve 31: 741-750, 2005.

Keenan KG, Farina D, Maluf KS, Merletti R, Enoka RM. Influence of amplitude cancellation on the simulated surface electromyogram. J Appl Physiol 98: 120-131, 2005.

Shinohara M, Keenan KG, Enoka RM. Contralateral activity in a homologous hand muscle during voluntary contractions is greater in old adults. J Appl Physiol 94: 966-974, 2003.

Speaker Topics  
Motor Control
Neurophysiology

Education
Post-Doctoral Scholar, Cornell University , Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 2008
Ph.D., University of Colorado, Integrative Physiology, 2005
M.S., University of Michigan, Kinesiology, 1998
B.S., University of Michigan, Kinesiology, 1990