Movement Neurophysiology Laboratory

The research conducted in this laboratory examines the neuromuscular mechanisms responsible for changes in motor performance with alterations in physical activity.  Current projects address two broad research areas.
1) Neurophysiology of Exercise – to examine the changes in the central and peripheral nervous system following increases (eccentric exercise, fatigue, strength training) and decreases (immobilisation) in physical activity and its effect on movements performed by humans.

2) The Ageing Nervous System – to examine the contribution of the motor cortex to the impaired fine control of hand movements in older adults, and to determine the extent of cortical plasticity using specific interventions with advancing age.  

3) Motor Cortex Plasticity and Motor Learning – to determine the factors that influence plasticity of the CNS and how this may improve motor learning in specific subject populations. 

The laboratory uses sophisticated stimulation and electrophysiological recording and analysis techniques to address these issues, which include transcranial magnetic stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, surface electromyography and single motor unit recording. The overall goal is to understand how the healthy nervous system functions to control movements following a variety of interventions, and how it may be rehabilitated following neuromuscular injury or disease.

		TMS: A senior male subject (74 yrs) receives transcranial magnetic stimulation, a technique used to stimulate neurons on the outer layer of the brain.
EMG: Electromyography, a technique used to measure the electrical activity of muscles, is recorded from the elbow flexor muscles of a young subject while he flexes his arm.
Strength: The maximum strength of a subject's arm is measured using a dynamometer.