- A324, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 586324
- ian.howard@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Ian Howard
Associate Professor Computational Neuroscience
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Ian can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
- Human sensorimotor control
- Robotic manipulanda
- Motor learning
- Bimanual movement
- Computational modelling
- Infant speech acquisition
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Module leader for:
- AINT351Z Machine Learning
- ROCO219 Control Engineering
- ROCO224 Introduction to Robotics
Previously module leader for:
- ROCO222 Introduction to Sensors and Actuators
- SOFT561 Robot Software Engineering
- SOFT141 Network Programming
Qualifications
Education/Qualifications
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering, B.Sc. (Eng.), University College London
- PhD, Speech Fundamental Period Estimation using Pattern Recognition, University College London
- PostDoc, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge
Professional membership
- Society for the Neural Control of Movement
- Society for Neuroscience
- International Speech Communication Association (ISCA)
Key publications
2017 'Active lead-in variability affects motor memory formation and slows motor learning' Scientific Reports , DOI Open access
2015 'The value of the follow-through derives from motor learning depending on future actions' Curr Biol 25, (3) 397-401 , DOI Open access
2014 'Learning to pronounce first words in three languages: an investigation of caregiver and infant behavior using a computational model of an infant' PLoS One 9, (10) , DOI Open access
2013 'The effect of contextual cues on the encoding of motor memories' J Neurophysiol 109, (10) 2632-2644 , DOI Open access
2012 'Gone in 0.6 seconds: the encoding of motor memories depends on recent sensorimotor states' J Neurosci 32, (37) 12756-12768 , DOI Open access
2011 'Modeling the development of pronunciation in infant speech acquisition' Motor Control 15, (1) 85-117 Open access
Research interests
I am actively involved in neuroscience research. This involves the study of the human motor system, with particular emphasis on arm and hand movements. I also develop computational models of infant speech acquisition. In addition, I design and develop robotic systems.
Key publications
2017 'Active lead-in variability affects motor memory formation and slows motor learning' Scientific Reports , DOI Open access
2015 'The value of the follow-through derives from motor learning depending on future actions' Curr Biol 25, (3) 397-401 , DOI Open access
2014 'Learning to pronounce first words in three languages: an investigation of caregiver and infant behavior using a computational model of an infant' PLoS One 9, (10) , DOI Open access
2013 'The effect of contextual cues on the encoding of motor memories' J Neurophysiol 109, (10) 2632-2644 , DOI Open access
2012 'Gone in 0.6 seconds: the encoding of motor memories depends on recent sensorimotor states' J Neurosci 32, (37) 12756-12768 , DOI Open access
2011 'Modeling the development of pronunciation in infant speech acquisition' Motor Control 15, (1) 85-117 Open access
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2020 'Asymmetry in kinematic generalization between visual and passive lead-in movements are consistent with a forward model in the sensorimotor system' PLOS ONE 15, (1) e0228083-e0228083 , DOI Open access
2019 'Alcohol, empathy, and morality: acute effects of alcohol consumption on affective empathy and moral decision-making' Psychopharmacology , DOI Open access
2017 'Virtual morality in the helping professions: Simulated action and resilience' British Journal of Psychology 109, (3) 442-465 , DOI Open access
2017 'Simulating Moral Actions: An Investigation of Personal Force in Virtual Moral Dilemmas' Scientific Reports 7, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
2017 'Active lead-in variability affects motor memory formation and slows motor learning' Scientific Reports , DOI Open access
2017 'Correction: Virtual Morality: Transitioning from Moral Judgment to Moral Action?' PLoS ONE 12, (1) e0170133-e0170133 , DOI Open access
2016 'Virtual Morality: Transitioning from Moral Judgment to Moral Action?' PLOS ONE 11, (10) 0-0 , DOI Open access
2016 'Adaptive tuning functions arise from visual observation of past movement' Scientific reports Publisher Site , DOI Open access
2015 'Creating the cognitive form of phonological units: The speech sound correspondence problem in infancy could be solved by mirrored vocal interactions rather than by imitation' Journal of Phonetics 53, 125-140 , DOI Open access
2015 'Enhanced cross-limb transfer of force field learning for dynamics that are identical in extrinsic and joint-based coordinates for both limbs' J Neurophysiol. Open access
2015 'Neural Tuning Functions Underlie Both Generalization and Interference' PLOS ONE 10, (6) e0131268-e0131268 , DOI Open access
2015 'The value of the follow-through derives from motor learning depending on future actions' Curr Biol 25, (3) 397-401 , DOI Open access
2014 'Learning to pronounce first words in three languages: an investigation of caregiver and infant behavior using a computational model of an infant' PLoS One 9, (10) , DOI Open access
2013 'The effect of contextual cues on the encoding of motor memories' J Neurophysiol 109, (10) 2632-2644 , DOI Open access
2012 'Gone in 0.6 seconds: the encoding of motor memories depends on recent sensorimotor states' J Neurosci 32, (37) 12756-12768 , DOI Open access
2012 'Speech Development: Toddlers Don't Mind Getting It Wrong' CURRENT BIOLOGY 22, (5) R160-R161 , DOI Open access
2011 'A Single-Rate Context-Dependent Learning Process Underlies Rapid Adaptation to Familiar Object Dynamics' PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY 7, (9) , DOI Open access
2011 'Separate representations of dynamics in rhythmic and discrete movements: evidence from motor learning' JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY 105, (4) 1722-1731 , DOI Open access
2011 'Modeling the development of pronunciation in infant speech acquisition' Motor Control 15, (1) 85-117 Open access
2010 'Context-Dependent Partitioning of Motor Learning in Bimanual Movements' JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY 104, (4) 2082-2091 , DOI Open access
2010 'Multiple Grasp-Specific Representations of Tool Dynamics Mediate Skillful Manipulation' CURRENT BIOLOGY 20, (7) 618-623 , DOI Open access
2009 'Statistics of Natural Movements Are Reflected in Motor Errors' JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY 102, (3) 1902-1910 , DOI Open access
2009 'A modular planar robotic manipulandum with end-point torque control' JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS 181, (2) 199-211 , DOI Open access
2008 'Composition and Decomposition in Bimanual Dynamic Learning' JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 28, (42) 10531-10540 , DOI Open access
2008 'The statistics of natural hand movements' EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 188, (2) 223-236 , DOI Open access
2004 'A Neuroeconomics Approach to Inferring Utility Functions in Sensorimotor Control' PLoS Biology 2, (10) e330-e330 , DOI Open access
1990 'Real-time portable multi-layer perceptron voice fundamental-period extractor for hearing aids and cochlear implants' Speech Communication 9, (1) 63-72 , DOI Open access
'Asymmetry in kinematic generalization between visual and passive lead-in movements are consistent with a forward model in the sensorimotor system' , DOI
Chapters
2018 'Characterization of Neural Tuning: Visual Lead-in Movements Generalize in Speed and Distance' Converging Clinical and Engineering Research on Neurorehabilitation III Springer International Publishing 1030-1033 , DOI Open access
Conference Papers
2019 'A Modular 3D-Printed Inverted Pendulum' Springer International Publishing 413-424 , DOI Open access
2012 '31.1:Invited Paper: Programmable Electrostatic Surface for Tactile Perceptions' Wiley 407-410 , DOI
2010 'Workspace comparisons of setup configurations for human-robot interaction' 2010 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2010) 0-/-1/20100-/-1/2010IEEE , DOI Open access
2008 'Modeling motor pattern generation in the development of infant speech production' 165-168 Open access
1993 'NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SPEECH PATTERN ELEMENT HEARING-AIDS FOR THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF' 124-135
1991 'Further developments of a neural network speech fundamental period estimation algorithm' 340-344 Open access
1991 'Feature extracting hearing aids for the profoundly deaf using a neural network implemented on a TMS320C51 digital signal processor' Final Program and Paper Summaries 1991 IEEE ASSP Workshop on Applications of Signal Processing to Audio and Acoustics 0-/-1/19910-/-1/1991IEEE , DOI
1986 'TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE OPERATION OF REAL-TIME FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY EXTRACTORS' 172-177