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I am a neurophysiologist who examines the neural control of movement and the interaction of sensation and movement in human subjects. I study cortical and motoneuronal events during exercise and muscle fatigue, how cortical connections to the motoneurones change with practice of motor tasks, and whether they can be changed artificially. I also study proprioception i.e. the sensations related to relative position and movement of parts of the body and the production of muscle force.
How Changes In The Motor Cortex And Spinal Cord With Exercise Contribute To Fatigue In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,250.00
Summary
Fatigue with exercise is a common experience in healthy people and can be a problem in many illnesses. With fatigue people are less able to produce force with their muscles. Much of this weakness occurs because of events in the muscles but some results from changes in the nervous system. The size of the contribution of the nervous system to fatigue is not known for the kinds of exercise that cause fatigue in everyday life e.g. prolonged weak contractions like holding the shopping or a plate of f ....Fatigue with exercise is a common experience in healthy people and can be a problem in many illnesses. With fatigue people are less able to produce force with their muscles. Much of this weakness occurs because of events in the muscles but some results from changes in the nervous system. The size of the contribution of the nervous system to fatigue is not known for the kinds of exercise that cause fatigue in everyday life e.g. prolonged weak contractions like holding the shopping or a plate of food, rhythmic contractions like walking or painting a wall, and more vigorous exercise that causes changes in breathing and body temperature. The behaviour of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord is altered in fatigue but how and why many of these changes occur, and how they affect the control of movements, is poorly understood. Three approaches are planned. In the first set of studies, we will use brain and nerve stimulation to measure the impact of sustained low-level activities on people's ability to drive their muscles fully. We will identify whether such activities, as well as increased demands on other body systems, can cause fatigue in the nervous system. In the second set of studies, we will investigate whether changes in the motor areas of the brain can alter peoples' performance of fatiguing motor tasks or their perception of how much effort the tasks take. Finally, we will use stimulation of the spinal cord to work out why motor nerve cells in the spinal cord fire more slowly with fatigue. Fatigue is an important symptom which is not confined to diseases of any one system in the body. For example, it is a major complaint in multiple sclerosis, cardiac failure, chronic obstructive airway disease, depression and cancer, as well as after chemotherapy, surgery, and viral illness. The implications of better understanding of the contribution of the nervous system to fatigue range from targeting treatments in patients to improving the performance of athletes.Read moreRead less
The final and most effective means that we have to stop a fall is the stepping reflex, which is an automatic response when the body topples. For many elderly and others, this reflex does not work effectively and leads to falls and injuries. Although we know a lot about human balance and standing, we know little about this stepping reflex. This project investigates the basic physiology of the stepping reflex and how it is affected by age with the aim of preventing falls and injuries.
Neuromuscular adaptations to training, cross training and passive physical interventions: A neurophysiological approach to understanding human performance and musculoskeletal injury. The expected national benefit arising from this research is three fold: (i) developing knowledge of approaches taken to improve exercise performance across the spectrum of novice to elite levels of participation, (ii) improved understanding of the physiological basis for widely applied interventions used to facilita ....Neuromuscular adaptations to training, cross training and passive physical interventions: A neurophysiological approach to understanding human performance and musculoskeletal injury. The expected national benefit arising from this research is three fold: (i) developing knowledge of approaches taken to improve exercise performance across the spectrum of novice to elite levels of participation, (ii) improved understanding of the physiological basis for widely applied interventions used to facilitate exercise, performance, as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation, and (iii) increasing the pool of world-class researchers who will make a substantial difference to the health and wellbeing of the community through one post-doctoral and two doctoral programs. This project will cement existing tertiary-industry sector collaboration, which will ensure long-standing benefits to the community.Read moreRead less
Competing demands on the axial muscles: Effects, consequences, compensations and mechanisms. Back and neck pain are major health issues and are associated with considerable cost to society and an individual's quality of life. A major issue is to identify factors that increase the chance of developing pain. This project will investigate a novel and innovative possibility; that competition between the many functions of the trunk muscles may increase the possibility for injury. We will study how th ....Competing demands on the axial muscles: Effects, consequences, compensations and mechanisms. Back and neck pain are major health issues and are associated with considerable cost to society and an individual's quality of life. A major issue is to identify factors that increase the chance of developing pain. This project will investigate a novel and innovative possibility; that competition between the many functions of the trunk muscles may increase the possibility for injury. We will study how the nervous system coordinates functions as diverse and movement of the spine, breathing, and control of head and eye movement. A key issue will be to identify whether situations arise in which control of the spine is compromised, potentially leading to increased risk of pain and injury. Such data can aid prevention and rehabilitation.Read moreRead less
Unravelling The Neural Bases Of The Diverse Capability Of The Grasping Hand
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,804.00
Summary
This project aims to unravel how the brain guides the hand to interact with objects in diverse ways, a topic that is poorly understood. We will use fMRI to find active brain areas during object grasps, & then use non-invasive brain stimulation to briefly “shut off” some of these areas, & then identify changes in grasping & previously active brain areas. Insight from this project on the neural bases of diverse hand-object interactions will speed up important work aimed at improving hand function.
Motor coordination in infancy and its relationship to motor and psychosocial development in childhood. Few studies have examined the impact of early motor development on later development, even though there is evidence to show that these early movements influence later motor ability. Motor development can also impact on cognitive, emotional and social development. The current study has data on early motor ability in over 90 infants which includes children at risk of developmental disorders. We ....Motor coordination in infancy and its relationship to motor and psychosocial development in childhood. Few studies have examined the impact of early motor development on later development, even though there is evidence to show that these early movements influence later motor ability. Motor development can also impact on cognitive, emotional and social development. The current study has data on early motor ability in over 90 infants which includes children at risk of developmental disorders. We will carry out a longitudinal investigation of the relationship between early motor development in infancy on motor and psychosocial development in childhood. The results will provide information on early markers for developmental disorders and appropriate intervention techniques than can be initiated in infancy. Read moreRead less
Urinary continence and incontinence in men: New insight through new technologies. Healthy ageing in men is largely overlooked. Disorders of continence are surprisingly common with increasing age, and are socially debilitating. To understand changes in continence and address healthy ageing it is first necessary to gain an understanding of continence mechanisms in healthy men. Continence in women has received wide attention, but anatomy and function differ, as do the challenges throughout life (ch ....Urinary continence and incontinence in men: New insight through new technologies. Healthy ageing in men is largely overlooked. Disorders of continence are surprisingly common with increasing age, and are socially debilitating. To understand changes in continence and address healthy ageing it is first necessary to gain an understanding of continence mechanisms in healthy men. Continence in women has received wide attention, but anatomy and function differ, as do the challenges throughout life (childbirth vs. prostate disease). Using novel methods we will test a new hypothesis of male continence with the goal to provide new physiological discoveries, new methods, and baseline data upon which strategies to enhance healthy ageing and reduce the economic burden of disorders of continence can be developed and refined. Read moreRead less
Revealing the beneficial effects of acoustic stimulation on the human brain. This project aims to provide greater understanding of the neural mechanisms by which initiation of motor responses can be improved by unexpected auditory stimulation. Initiating motor actions appears natural and effortless, but is underpinned by complex neural mechanisms that are not well understood. Using novel brain stimulation techniques, the project aims to assess the potential for properly timed strong sensory stim ....Revealing the beneficial effects of acoustic stimulation on the human brain. This project aims to provide greater understanding of the neural mechanisms by which initiation of motor responses can be improved by unexpected auditory stimulation. Initiating motor actions appears natural and effortless, but is underpinned by complex neural mechanisms that are not well understood. Using novel brain stimulation techniques, the project aims to assess the potential for properly timed strong sensory stimulation during movement preparation to induce neural plasticity and motor learning. This knowledge would have important implications across a number of fields, including neuroscience, sports science, and applied ergonomics.Read moreRead less