Athletic Training Research Laboratory
ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS
The Effects of Fatigue and Chronic Ankle Instability on Dynamic Postural Control
Correlations Between Ankle Joint Laxity as Measured by an Ankle Arthrometer and Physical Examination
The Effects of Foot-Positioning on Balance Training
The Effects of Oral Contraceptives on Changes in Risk Factors of ACL Injuries in Female Collegiate Athletes Across the Menstrual Cycle
Contributions to Ankle Instability: A discriminate analysis
Recurrent Concussion Evaluation in Lacrosse
Effect of Orthotics on Static and Dynamic Balance
Effect of Rehabilitation on Static and Dynamic Balance Among Chronic Ankle Instability Sufferers
Motor Control Lab
The Laboratory was founded in January 1995. Its activities have mostly been directed along two major research routes that can be characterized by two key expressions: "Equilibrium-point Hypothesis" and "Synergy". Within these wide areas, we have studied multi-joint limb movements, postural control, and multi-limb coordination, and multi-digit coordination. These research programs have been supported by three NIH grants. We are also interested in changes in movement and posture coordination with age and neurological disorders as well as following motor rehabilitation.
Biomechanics Laboratory
Bone Quality: A Composite of Complex Phenotypic Traits
Optimizing Tendon Transfer Surgery for Hindfoot Varus in a Dynamic Cadaver Model
Bone Strain, Fatigue Damage and Stress Fractures
Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Musculoskeletal Computer Modeling of Foot and Ankle Disorders
Changes in Muscle Moment Arms Induced by Split Tendon Transfer
Computational Modeling of Total Knee Replacement Motions
Energy Storage in the Prostheses of Transtibial Amputees
Sensory Control of Multijoint Reaching:
The Neural Foundations of Handedness: Evidence for Dynamic Dominance
Mechanisms Underlying Interlimb Transfer of Motor Learning
Differential Contributions of Left and Right Hemisphere to Unilateral Reaching
Modeling Sit-to-Stand in the Elderly
Wobbling Mass Influences on Human Movement
Tendon Properties in vivo
Prehension Synergies
Movement Neuroscience Laboratory
Research Description
Our current program is split into three lines of work, focusing on the neural control of multi-joint reaching movements: 1) The roles of different sensory modalities in programming and executing reaching movements. 2) Learning and generalization of performance during practice under novel dynamic and visuomotor conditions. 3) The neural foundations of handedness. Handedness provides a natural window into the normal organization of the motor control system because interlimb differences in coordination appear to result from neurophysiological, in contrast to, biomechanical asymmetries. Recent findings from this laboratory indicate that handedness results from specialized contributions of each cerebral hemisphere to different aspects of motor control. Our research employs an interdisciplinary approach to studying basic mechanisms of motor control, and is ultimately directed toward effecting improvements in clinical rehabilitation.
All of these research programs are carried out in neurologically intact individuals, as well as in patients with neurological deficits. The long term goal of our laboratory is to advance our understanding of motor control and learning mechanisms and to apply this understanding toward improving clinical neurorehabilitation.
- Neural Foundations of Handedness
- Sensory Control of Reaching
- Interlimb Transfer of Learning
- Ipsilesional Motor Deficits in Stroke
Noll Laboratory
The Noll Physiological Research Center conducts research in basic, applied and clinical physiology. Its scientists promote an integrative physiology approach when possible and, while some small animal work is conducted, the majority of studies use human subjects. Common threads through much of our work include aging and/or exercise. The following provide some examples of the important questions being asked by Noll scientists and their students:
- HEART FUNCTION AND AGE
- HUMAN THERMOREGULATION
- AGING AND MUSCLE BLOOD FLOW
- REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY
- BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL IN MICROGRAVITY
Exercise Psychology Laboratory
EPL Studies and Participant Recruitment:
Active MOMS
Active MOMS is a research study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases [R21 DK075867-01] for pregnant women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The purpose of this study is to examine exercise and health behaviors during pregnancy to understand their impact on gestational diabetes for women and their babies. Participation includes: completing self-reported surveys during each pregnancy trimester and postpartum, two 90-minute health assessments during the second and third pregnancy trimesters, wearing activity monitors, and participating in an exercise program. Compensation up to $230 is provided for participation in this study. Interested in participating in Active MOMS? Contact Jennifer DiNallo at jmd422@psu.edu or 814-865-0840.
Beliefs About Exercise After Pregnancy (BEAP)
BEAP is a research study funded by the Social Sciences Research Institute and Children, Youth, and Families Consortium of the Pennsylvania State University for postpartum women with gestational diabetes in their recent pregnancy. The study purpose is to better understand women’s thoughts about exercise and other health behaviors to help us develop a lifestyle program in postpartum. Participation includes: completing self-report surveys at 6 and 24 weeks postpartum, participating in a 60-min focus group with other postpartum women, and wearing exercise monitors. Compensation up to $75 is provided for participation in this study. Interested in participating in BEAP? Contact Jennifer DiNallo at jmd422@psu.edu or 814-865-0840.
Validity of Exercise Measures During Pregnancy (VEMP)
The purposes of this study are to examine the: (1) validity of self-report and objective exercise measures during pregnancy, and (2) association between maternal exercise correlates and infant outcomes. This ongoing study includes data on healthy women’s exercise behaviors during each pregnancy trimester and postpartum with objective assessments (i.e., treadmill [VO2] and free-living conditions wearing accelerometers and pedometers) and self-reported measures (i.e., exercise correlates and behaviors) at 20 and 32 weeks gestation. Compensation up to $120 is provided for participation in this study. Interested in participating in VEMP? Contact Jennifer DiNallo at jmd422@psu.edu or 814-865-0840.
Psychological Determinants of Exercise
We have two ongoing longitudinal studies examining the motivational determinants of exercise among pregnant and postpartum women and adolescent boys and girls. Constructs under examination include: Theory of Planned Behavior (intention, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, beliefs), body image, depression, anxiety, social support, self-efficacy, exercise dependence, and exercise barriers.
Psychophysiology of Movement Laboratory
EEG RESEARCH.
EEG and movement.
Brain Computer Interface.
INJURY REHABILIATATION.
Computer graphics and modern motion tracking technology for joint position sense assessment and improvement.
PERCEPTUAL OF POSTURAL INSTABILITY.
Computer graphics for assessment of postural stability.
MENTAL SKILL.
Computer graphics for skill performance improvement.
Sport Psychology Laboratory
