Mentor
Ryan Davis
Assistant Professor
Dahlonega Campus
Research Interests
Blood flow, vascular health, muscle oxygenation.
Current Projects
The Effect of Single Leg Cycling Training on Critical Velocity: A 4-Week Randomized Controlled Trial.
Mentor
Andrzej Przybyla
Professor
Dahlonega Campus
Research Interests
Movement neuroscience, motor control, biomechanics, neurorehabilitation, sports science
Current Projects
Interlimb differences in motor control and behavior - handedness is a prominent manifestation of asymmetry in neural organization that has previously been relegated as either an artifact of lateralization in non-motor systems, or as the simple effect of practiced patterns of hand use. We hypothesize that handedness reflects a functional optimization process through which control of limb position and trajectory have become specialized. This theory diverges from other biological descriptions of motor lateralization in defining the control mechanisms that underlie handedness, and in proposing hemispheric specialization for movement dynamics (dominant) and postural (non-dominant) control mechanisms. However, it remains speculative due to limited evidence for specialization of the non-dominant system. In general, this research is significant to understanding how the brain controls movements and what type of control mechanisms are being employed by neural structures and/or processes. The proposition that the human brain’s lateralization of motor function reflects optimization processes leads to predictions about motor behavior and motor learning. Thus, we will study the role of individual brain hemispheres in hand selection behavior and learning a new motor tasks across unimanual and bimanual tasks, handedness, and healthy aging. We will address our research questions by examining recordings of arm movements and muscle activity as people interact with a computer game. Improved understanding of motor control mechanisms studied here would provide basis for improved rehabilitative approaches to movement impairments such as stroke, Parkinson's Disease, and Cerebral Palsy. (2) Analysis of player performance and injuries in collegiate soccer - The purpose of this study is to monitor and analyze player performance data and injury information, if such occurs, in order to develop more effective injury prevention, return to play protocols, and playing readiness.
Mentor
Balea Schumacher
Assistant Professor
Gainesville Campus
Research Interests
Female physiology, neuromuscular physiology sex differences, fatiguability, exercise behavior.
Mentor
Stanislaw Solnik
Professor
Dahlonega Campus
Research Interests
Motor Control, Movement Neuroscience, Motor Behavior and Performance, Biomechanics, Neurorehabilitation, Exercise Science.
Current Projects
Multidisciplinary research spanning movement science, biomechanics, motor control, and neuroscience, aimed at translating basic science into more focused and effective physical therapy interventions, investigating how the central nervous system coordinates muscles and joints to accomplish movement goals. Students are trained through a staged model beginning with the project's theoretical framework and research questions, continuing through instrumentation and data collection, progressing to data processing and analysis, and culminating in interpretation, presentation, and, when appropriate, authorship — giving students ownership of a phase of the project while exposing them to the complete research process. Many former undergraduate mentees have presented at international conferences and co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals.