Lab Members

The primary goal of Dr. Kao’s research is to better understand the influence of health behavior and its associated biobehavioral correlates on human cognition and brain health. He is particularly interested in the acute and chronic effects of physical activity on behavioral and neuroelectric outcomes related to cognitive function during childhood and early adulthood. His research focuses include (1) the associations of different aspects of physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness) and motor competence with higher-order cognition such as executive function and memory, (2) the role of exercise parameters (e.g., mode, intensity, timing) on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, (3) the development of physical activity interventions that can be implemented and integrated into real-world settings (e.g. school, workplace) for facilitating attention, learning, work productivity, and brain health.

Manuela Cortes Ospina

Manuela is from Medellín, Colombia, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at EIA University. In the fall of 2023, she began her doctoral studies in Health and Kinesiology at Purdue University as a member of the PANCH Lab. Her research interests focus on the relationships among physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, brain function, and cognitive and emotional health. Since joining the lab, she has been involved in projects examining these relationships across different age groups, including children, young adults, and young women. For her doctoral work, she is particularly interested in understanding how the menstrual cycle influences neurocognitive and emotional outcomes in young women, with the goal of contributing to research that supports women’s health. 

Simone Cannon

Simone is from Opelika, Alabama, and completed BS in Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology from UAB then MS in Kinesiology Ex Phys. She is a Medical Services Officer in the Army National Guard. Her research interests are related to (1) how mental skills training can be used to address things like performance anxiety, motivation, injury recovery, and transition out of sport, and (2) how athletes and MIL population manage mental & physical demands in high-performance environments. Her projects in PANCH lab are developing.