About

Claudio Luis Ferre, PhD, is the director of the Development, Experience, & Motor Recovery (DEMR) Lab and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Boston University as well as a member of the BU Neurophotonics Center. He earned his B.S. in Psychology from DePaul University, his M.A. in Developmental Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and his Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Columbia University. Prior to joining Boston University, Dr. Ferre completed postdoctoral training in Clinical Neuroscience at the Burke Neurological Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Ferre's research centers on the critical role of sensorimotor experiences in the development of manual skills and investigates how activity contributes to adaptation following developmental brain injury. Outside of his scientific work, he enjoys biking over bridges, making homemade pasta, dancing salsa and tango, playing fútbol, and supporting La Celeste.

Research topics

• Physical therapy
• Surgery
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Medicine
• Psychology

Selected publications

• Association of pain sensitization with prefrontal cortex activation and movement patterns during single- and dual-task walking in people with knee osteoarthritis

  Journal of Pain · 2026-02-18

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Development of handedness and other lateralized functions during infancy and early childhood

  Handbook of clinical neurology · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Prefrontal cortex activation during daily movements and its association with clinical symptoms in knee osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open · 2025-04-24 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  <h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Objective</h3> For people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), step-up is one of the most physically demanding and pain-evoking daily movements. Given the significant role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in executive function and pain modulation, our objectives were (1) to assess PFC activation during walking and step-up in people with knee OA and (2) to examine the association of pain and psychological outcomes with changes in PFC activation from walking to step-up. <h3>Design</h3> This cross-sectional study included 44 individuals with symptomatic knee OA. Participants completed Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Pain, Enjoyment of Life, and General Activity (PEG) scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) for mood, 3-item Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). Oxygenated hemoglobin concentration changes (HbO₂) in the bilateral PFC were assessed using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. HbO₂ were compared between tasks using repeated measures ANCOVA. Multiple linear regression models tested the association between clinical outcomes and changes in HbO₂ from walking to step-up while adjusting for confounders. <h3>Results</h3> HbO₂ during step-up was higher compared to walking, with moderate effect size (<i>d</i> ​= ​0.3–0.5). Greater pain catastrophizing (R² ​= ​0.10) was correlated with smaller changes in HbO₂ from walking to step-up. <h3>Conclusion</h3> People with knee OA utilized greater executive control during step-up compared to walking. Similar to stair climbing, step-up is more physically demanding and more frequently impaired than walking. Greater pain catastrophizing was related to smaller increases in PFC activation from walking to step-up, reflecting the availability of fewer executive resources to maintain task performance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Transcranial direct current stimulation and motor function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

  Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · 2025-05-13 · 1 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  AIM: To provide meta-analytical evidence regarding the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) across different stimulation protocols. METHOD: Using JBI methodology, we applied a random effects model to quantify motor function changes after tDCS. Moderator analyses examined the impact of electrode polarity and stimulation site. Subgroup analyses evaluated the impact of therapy inclusion and the number of sessions. RESULTS: tDCS improved motor function in children with CP (Hedges' g = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24-0.81). Moderator analyses revealed statistically significant efficacy of anodal tDCS (Hedges' g = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.45-1.02), especially applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) (Hedges' g = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.52-1.11). Subgroup analyses showed tDCS efficacy with (Hedges' g = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.52-1.20) and without therapy (Hedges' g = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.21-1.19), and in single (Hedges' g = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.39-1.31) and multiple sessions (Hedges' g = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.42-1.14). Limb-specific analysis showed positive effects for lower-limb function (Hedges' g = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.50-1.25). When anodal tDCS was applied to the M1, both lower (Hedges' g = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.70-1.35) and upper (Hedges' g = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.16-0.83) limbs showed improvements. INTERPRETATION: Anodal tDCS, particularly when applied to the M1, may effectively improve motor function in children with CP.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Association of central pain sensitization with prefrontal cortex activation during single- and dual-task walking in knee osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis and Cartilage · 2025-04-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Prefrontal cortex function and gait alterations during single- and dual-task walking in knee osteoarthritis

  PLoS ONE · 2025-09-11 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Over-recruitment of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during complex walking conditions may reflect altered motor and cognitive performance in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Our objectives were (1) to assess PFC activation, and motor and cognitive performance, during single- and dual-task walking in people with knee OA and (2) to examine the association of PFC activation with the performance. Forty-eight people with symptomatic knee OA completed three tasks, (1) single-task walking (STW) (2) subtraction by 7 from a 3-digit number (S7), and (3) dual-task walking (DTW), a combination of STW and S7. Oxygenated hemoglobin concentration changes (ΔHbO2) in bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) were assessed using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. Motor performance outcomes included gait speed, step duration variability, and stride length variability. Cognitive performance was assessed as the correct response rate during S7. We used repeated measures ANCOVA to compare the outcomes by tasks. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between PFC activation and performance outcomes. PFC activation was higher during STW and DTW compared to S7 but not significantly different between STW and DTW. People with knee OA walked slower (d = 0.63) and had higher variability in step duration (d = 0.45) and stride length (d = 0.37) during DTW compared to STW. Greater activation in right ventrolateral PFC (R2 = 0.15) and left dorsomedial PFC (R2 = 0.12) were associated with lower step duration variability. When walking is challenged with a cognitive task, people with knee OA show deterioration of gait performance and no change in PFC activation.

  PublisherDOI

• HABIT+tDCS: a study protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the synergistic efficacy of hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) plus targeted non-invasive brain stimulation to improve upper extremity function in school-age children with unilateral cerebral palsy

  BMJ Open · 2022-02-01 · 8 citations

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) is characterised by movement deficits primarily on one body side. The best available upper extremity (UE) therapies are costly and intensive. Thus, there is an urgent need for better, more efficient and thus more accessible therapies. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is non-invasive and may enhance physical rehabilitation approaches. The aim of this study is to determine whether tDCS targeted to the hemisphere with corticospinal tract (CST) connectivity enhances the efficacy of UE training in children with USCP. Our central hypothesis is that hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) combined with a tDCS montage targeting the hemisphere with CST connectivity to the impaired UE muscles will improve UE function more than HABIT plus sham stimulation. We will test this by conducting a randomised clinical trial with clinical and motor cortex physiology outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSES: 81 children, aged 6-17 years, will be randomised to receive 2 mA anodal tDCS targeted to the affected UE motor map, 2 mA cathodal tDCS to the contralesional motor cortex or sham tDCS during the first 20 min of each HABIT session (10 hours: 2 hours/day for 5 days). Primary outcomes will be Box and Blocks Test, Assisting Hand Assessment and motor cortex excitability, determined with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Secondary outcomes include ABILHAND-Kids, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Cooper Stereognosis, Dimension of Mastery Questionnaire and Participation and Environment Measure-Children and Youth. All measures will be collected before, immediately and 6 months after treatment. A group × test session Analysis of Variance will test differences among groups on all measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the BRANY Institutional Review Board (#18-10-285-512). We will leverage our subject and family relationships to maximise dissemination and share results with the academic and patient/family advocacy groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03402854.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Mirror movements and brain pathology in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

  Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · 2022-06-24 · 9 citations

  article

  Abstract Aim We systematically examined the relationship between mirror movements and brain lesion type, corticospinal tract (CST) organization, and hand function to determine the relevance between mirror movements, brain lesion, the CST pattern, and hand function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Method Forty‐eight children (mean age 9y 9mo [SD 3y 3mo], range 6–18y; 30 males, 18 females) with unilateral CP participated. Mirror movements, brain lesion type, CST pattern identified by transcranial magnetic stimulation, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Children performed four unilateral tasks: hand opening/closing, finger opposition, individuation, and finger ‘walking’. Mirror movements induced in the contralateral hand were scored using standardized criteria (scores 0–4 using the Woods and Teuber scale). Results We found that children with periventricular lesion may have stronger mirror movement scores induced in either hand than those with middle cerebral artery lesion (more affected hand: p =0.02; less affected hand: p &lt;0.01). The highest mirror movement score a child exhibits across the tested tasks (i.e. scores of 3–4 using the Woods and Teuber scoring criteria) may potentially be an indicator of an ipsilateral CST connectivity pattern ( p =0.03). Significant correlations were observed between higher mirror movement scores when performing hand opening/closing as well as finger walking and better unimanual dexterity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r s =0.44, p =0.002; r s =0.46, p =0.002 respectively). Interpretation Brain lesions may be predictive of the strength of mirror movements in either hand in children with unilateral CP. Our findings warrant further studies to extensively investigate the relationship between mirror movements and the underlying brain pathology. What this paper adds Brain lesion type may be predictive of mirror movement scores induced in either hand in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. The highest mirror movement score a child exhibits across the tested tasks may indicate corticospinal tract connectivity pattern in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

  PublisherDOI

• Intensive Bimanual Intervention for Children Who Have Undergone Hemispherectomy: A Pilot Study

  Pediatric Physical Therapy · 2021-06-21 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: To conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of an intensive bimanual intervention on upper limb function in children who have undergone hemispherectomy. METHODS: Thirteen children received 90 hours of intensive bimanual training (Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy, HABIT). The Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF), Box and Block Test (BBT), Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), ABILHAND-Kids, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) were assessed by a masked clinician twice before, immediately, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Significant improvements over time were found in the JTTHF, AHA, ABILHAND-Kids, and COPM. CONCLUSION: Completion of HABIT was feasible for children with hemispherectomy. Improvement of bimanual function and functional goals can be related to the nature of the activities prioritized in HABIT training.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Improvements in Upper Extremity Function Following Intensive Training Are Independent of Corticospinal Tract Organization in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Clinical Randomized Trial

  Frontiers in Neurology · 2021 · 34 citations

  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Physical therapy
  • Medicine

  www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02918890.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kathleen M. Friel

  49 shared

• Andrew M. Gordon

  46 shared

• Jason B. Carmel

  31 shared

• Hsing‐Ching Kuo

  Alberta Children's Hospital

  28 shared

• Marina B. Brandão

  Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

  24 shared

• Ana R.P. Smorenburg

  Royal Dutch Kentalis

  16 shared

• Maxime T. Robert

  Université Laval

  14 shared

• Karen Chin

  Columbia University

  13 shared

Labs

• Development, Experience, & Motor Recovery LabPI

Education

• PhD

  Columbia University

  2015