Research Projects

1. Acute exercise, fitness and motor learning in children and adults

Authors: Angulo-Barroso^1,2, RM, Ferrer-Uris, B.², Busquets A.²

¹Kinesiology, California State Univ., Northridge, CA.

²INEFC, Barcelona, Spain

We are interested in (1) examining the impact of an acute bout of intense endurance exercise (iEE) on motor-perceptual learning in children, (2) assessing whether fitness level matters for motor learning, and (3) evaluating brain activity during such learning. We will examine these questions in children with and without developmental coordination disorder, and in adults.

2. Movements children use to control jumping and landing

Authors: Angulo-Barroso

We are interested in understanding the different ways that children perform and control jumping and landing, how these movements change over time, and how having to make another movement immediately following landing affects these landing movements.

1. Factors associated with the development of basic motor skills and physical fitness in elementary school students.

Objective: This project aims to identify prevalence of motor skill deficits and to verify the nature of the associations between the proficiency of basic motor skills with sociodemographic, anthropometric variables, perception of competence, physical fitness and school performance among elementary school students from the municipal public schools in the city of Marechal Cândido Rondon-PR (Brazil).

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2. Transcultural validation of the FG-COMPASS.

Objective: This project aims to collect validity and reliability evidence for the Portuguese version of the FG-COMPASS.

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3. Development and psychometric evaluation of the FG-COMPASS

Objective: This project aims to collect validity and reliability evidence for the Furtado-Gallagher Computerized Observational Movement Pattern Assessment System – FG-COMPASS.

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4. Development and psychometric evaluation of the PSFMS

Objective: This project aims to collect validity and reliability evidence for the Pictorial Scale of Fundamental Movement Skill – PSFMS.

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Human balance and locomotion

A comparison of various distance training methods for novice yoga practitioners

Objective: This work examines how yoga can be practiced and learned across virtual media in synchronous (e.g., live Zoom classes), asynchronous (e.g., YouTube videos), and mixed learning settings.

Watch where you walk: Human visual perception and motion of the lower limbs while navigating obstacles in a fatigued state

Objective: This work is geared towards investigating how fatigue following high-intensity exercise impacts individuals’ visual abilities and gait mechanics during obstacle navigation (such as stepping up, over, and around them). Such information helps us better understand why people in occupations such as firefighting are at a greater risk for trips and falls when they are physically fatigued.

Collaborators: Dr. Sean Rogers (CSUN Kinesiology)

An analysis of compensation patterns of transtibial amputees during static neutral yoga postures

Objective: This study seeks to determine the balance control mechanisms and muscle activation patterns in those with lower-limb amputation practicing yoga. When compared to those without amputation, these data can be used to create adapted yoga programs for this population in the future. This study was performed as part of Nicole Stoehr's thesis.

Human motor adaptation in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (AR/VR/XR)

An investigation of the impact of immersive virtual reality practice on visual and mechanical abilities

Objective: In this project, we seek to determine how use of virtual reality (VR) headsets influences the visual system’s ability to focus on targets and how that impacts learning of skills in a virtual world. Since the use of VR is becoming more widespread, it is important to know how learning of motor skills in a virtual world differs on a visual and biomechanical level compared to learning the same skill in the real world.

Collaborators: Dr. Stefanie Drew (CSUN Psychology), Dr. Thomas Chan (CSUN Psychology)

Using new technology to optimize reader experiences

Objective: This research seeks to optimize virtual reading environments for individuals across the life span through determining the best virtual environment design practices that maximize human performance and minimize detrimental visual and motor aftereffects.

Collaborators: Dr. Stefanie Drew (CSUN Psychology), Dr. Thomas Chan (CSUN Psychology), Dr. Tomer Weiss (Dept. of Informatics, New Jersey Institute of Technology)

Effects of action-relevant augmented reality visual cues on Parkinsonian gait

Objective: As part of Isaiah Lachica's thesis, this study seeks to determine how different types of visual cues (spatial) and auditory cues (temporal) delivered through an augmented reality platform stabilize gait in those with Parkinson's disease.

Collaborators: Dr. Thomas Chan (CSUN Psychology)

Human vision

Enhancement of on-field visual perception in adult collegiate soccer players

Objective: This project seeks to determine whether peripheral narrowing (aka “tunnel vision”) during high-stress activities can be mitigated through peripheral vision training. In soccer, where peripheral vision is highly important, this training can potentially impact how events on the field are visually perceived.

Collaborators: Dr. Shane Stecyk (Kinesiology), Dr. Victoria Graham (Physical Therapy)