How do past actions and rewards bias goal directed movement? This project aims to identify how different aspects of our past experience affect the accuracy of movements, and study the underlying brain mechanisms. This project will use timing methods and brain recordings to test how the history of movements we have executed in the past, and the rewards associated with those movements, interact to affect subsequent movement execution. The project should advance basic understanding of how the human ....How do past actions and rewards bias goal directed movement? This project aims to identify how different aspects of our past experience affect the accuracy of movements, and study the underlying brain mechanisms. This project will use timing methods and brain recordings to test how the history of movements we have executed in the past, and the rewards associated with those movements, interact to affect subsequent movement execution. The project should advance basic understanding of how the human brain controls movement, and provide theoretical foundations needed to improve the design of human-machine interfaces, and training approaches in industry, rehabilitation and sport.Read moreRead less
Optimising the spring in your step to enhance footwear design. This project aims to examine how the nervous system adjusts the mechanical function of our feet across a spectrum of speeds, from slow running through to maximal effort sprinting. The proposed research will explore how the nervous system controls the function of the foot to meet the ever-varying demands of locomotion in the real-world. Expected outcomes of this project are to determine if running shoes help or hinder the natural spri ....Optimising the spring in your step to enhance footwear design. This project aims to examine how the nervous system adjusts the mechanical function of our feet across a spectrum of speeds, from slow running through to maximal effort sprinting. The proposed research will explore how the nervous system controls the function of the foot to meet the ever-varying demands of locomotion in the real-world. Expected outcomes of this project are to determine if running shoes help or hinder the natural spring-like function of the foot. It will explain a conceptually novel design allowing shoes to support our feet, whilst harnessing the energetic benefits of the foot's spring-like function. This research has the potential to revolutionise athletic footwear design and has direct implications for enhanced performance in running athletes.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
Multitasking effects on motor control in childhood through adolescence. This project aims to increase knowledge on the development of motor control and its cognitive determinants. The ability to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously is a critical skill for daily living. From childhood to adolescence, and across a range of developmental disorders, simultaneous performance of cognitive and motor tasks represents a major challenge. Children with cognitive and motor coordination problems ....Multitasking effects on motor control in childhood through adolescence. This project aims to increase knowledge on the development of motor control and its cognitive determinants. The ability to perform cognitive and motor tasks simultaneously is a critical skill for daily living. From childhood to adolescence, and across a range of developmental disorders, simultaneous performance of cognitive and motor tasks represents a major challenge. Children with cognitive and motor coordination problems show increased inattention, hyperactivity, psychosocial difficulties and negative perceptions of self-worth. This project aims to investigate how the cognitive demands of balance control during walking changes from childhood to adolescence. The results may help to identify the mechanisms underlying childhood disorders associated with comorbid cognitive and motor impairments and provide strategies for earlier identification.Read moreRead less
Structural and neural determinants of stress and strain in human muscle. This project aims to further our understanding of the biomechanical stress and strains experienced by contracting human muscles. Using innovative imaging techniques such as microendoscopy and supersonic shear imaging, we expect to generate new significant evidence on the structural and neural factors that lead to areas of high stress in human muscles. Outcomes of this project include not only a new understanding of muscle d ....Structural and neural determinants of stress and strain in human muscle. This project aims to further our understanding of the biomechanical stress and strains experienced by contracting human muscles. Using innovative imaging techniques such as microendoscopy and supersonic shear imaging, we expect to generate new significant evidence on the structural and neural factors that lead to areas of high stress in human muscles. Outcomes of this project include not only a new understanding of muscle design on multi-scale level, but also of muscle function and adaptation. This should provide significant benefits in better predicting muscle injury and prescribing safe exercise, knowledge that would benefit biomechanical engineers and sport and exercise professionals.Read moreRead less