We stand without falling by using silent senses from muscles and the balance organs of the inner ear to unconsciously detect and control our movements. Since the leg muscles provide both the force and the sense, and critically rely on good circulation, they are vitally important. I propose to study how these sensory and muscle functions are used to control balance, posture and stepping reflexes, making it easier to identify older people who will fall and design new preventative strategies.
Human Movement Control: Basic And Applied Neurophysiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$948,684.00
Summary
My research targets mechanisms underlying human movement, ways in which they can be deranged, and ways in which interventions can diminish impairments. It focuses on gaps in understanding and in clinical practice. Work in our broad ‘Motor Impairment’ NHMRC Program underpin my research. It is supplemented by new work on respiratory neurophysiology which has already delivered basic and clinical insight into neural control of the main breathing muscles and more recently upper airway muscles.
INVESTIGATING PROPRIOCEPTION AND SENSORIMOTOR CONTROL IN HUMANS DEVOID OF FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE SPINDLES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,983.00
Summary
Specific genetic mutations can lead to widespread changes in the body. Here we are looking at congenital Hereditary and Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy type III (HSAN III). Affected individuals have difficulty walking, which progressively worsens over time. This series of experiments aims to increase our understanding of the underlying neurophysiological disturbances in HSAN III.
Spatial Coding In The Primate Cortex During Eye Movements.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,720.00
Summary
Every time we move our eyes, objects in the world change their positions on the retina, yet to us, their positions remain perceptually unchanged. This project seeks to understand how neurons in the primate brain combine visual input with signals about eye position to construct this stable representation of external space. The findings will help us understand and-or rehabilitate a host of nervous system dysfunctions, including schizophrenia, stroke, and paraplegia.
I am a clinician neuroscientist studying the physiology and pathophysiology of how the human brain, spinal cord and muscles produce voluntary and automatic movements.