- Kelly Finan
- How Weight Lifting Changes Neural Connections
- Color
Collection: Medical x
Over the course of two months, researchers trained macaque monkeys to lift more and more weight, until they were able to do the equivalent of a one-armed pull-up. When the researchers stimulated a bundle of nerves in the spinal cord known as the reticulospinal tract (RST), they saw increases in the resulting neuronal electrical signals in the monkeys’ arm muscles as training progressed, while they did not see the same consistent upward trend in the muscles’ responses to stimulation of the corticospinal tract (CST). The results suggest that RST connectivity may play a critical role in muscle strengthening. Published in The Scientist, September 2020. Writing by Jef Akst.
About the Artist: Kelly Finan x
"My business focuses on using stable and radiogenic geochemistry, not something common to many of the people that I work with. Kelly's ability to construct clear, well-designed and highly aesthetic images has helped me convey complex geochemical reactions and geochemical patterns with ease."
-Dr. Ryan Mathur, geologist
"Kelly was excellent to work with; she is organized, quick to respond to email communications, produces work that transmits information (crucial for scientific illustration) and work that is often beautiful."
-Dr. Paula Martin, water scientist
"[I] have been more than pleased with the quality of Kelly's work, and with her ability to capture the essence of new creatures in a new landscape."
-Dr. Bill McLarney, ichthyologist
Visit my website for more illustrations, graphic design, and information about me!
www.kellyfinan.com