Exercise Sciences

Project

As part of an ongoing randomised controlled trial, we are evaluating the efficacy of an immersive video game-based therapy platform which aims to improve recovery of the hand and arm after stroke. In the trial, participants with weak hand and arm due to stroke, complete high-intensity hand and arm therapy within a virtual oceanic environment by making natural movements with their hand and arm which control a terehu (bottlenose dolphin), kera wera (orca) and other creatures. The trial evaluates hand and arm kinematics, hand dexterity, and corticospinal function of the paretic and non-paretic sides longitudinally during the first six months of recovery after stroke. The scholar will undertake this project working alongside a diverse and international team of scientists, clinicians, and postgraduate students in the Movement Neuroscience Lab (907.123).

Ideal student

This exciting project is best suited to a student who has successfully completed EXERSCI 305 – MOVEMENT NEUROSCIENCE, or obtained a BSc degree in a neuroscience related area. Interest from students intending to undertake BSc (Honours) in Movement Neuroscience in 2023 is welcome.

Further details about the tasks that will be completed as part of this project can be obtained by emailing Professor Byblow.

Project

Heart disease remains the number 1 cause of death in Aotearoa. This project will involve examining the effect of behavioural skills training to staff in the Auckland cardiac rehabilitation programme.

This project will involve database compilation that requires script building skills. Students will need skills in basic computing, health literacy pertaining to cardiac disease, and basic data analysis. This project will contribute ongoing work supporting patient outcomes in the Auckland Health District Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme.

Project

Despite our best efforts to help people after they have had a heart attack, patients struggle to adopt healthy behaviour change. This project will involve providing a standardised series of sessions utilising skills of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy (MI-CBT) to patients in cardiac rehabilitation (based out of the Health Rehabilitation Clinic). At present, the use of MI-CBT has not been delivered in a standardised way, limiting the ability to scale this intervention.

This project will develop a standardised two-session format to engage patients with behavioural change in key areas related to successful rehabilitation.

The student will need basic undergraduate health science training, familiarity with patient interviews and experience working with health clients.

The student will receive specific training in the use of MI-CBT.

Project

Back pain is a substantial worldwide burden. For people who recover from an acute episode of back pain, there is a high chance this will recur or become a more chronic condition. This project is examining how pain education and lifestyle support (i.e., sleep and physical activity) can be enhanced through use of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy techniques (MI-CBT).

This project will involve training the student in the specific skills of MI-CBT, combined with novel application with pain education and lifestyle advice. The student will work directly with participants as part of an ongoing study to prevent pain recurrence.

The student will require undergraduate skills in a health science, experience working with a range of adults, and specific interests in applied behavioural and lifestyle support interventions.

Project

This project will use medical images and video data to construct a computational model of a generic infant’s musculoskeletal system. This model will be used as part of our larger project assessing the health of infant’s neuromotor development from videos of their early movement patterns, from which risk of developing cerebral palsy and related conditions can be predicted.

The selected summer scholar will work alongside graduate students and research fellows in the Department of Exercise Sciences and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute.

Students applying for this project should have a demonstrated interest in at least one of the following subjects: biomechanics, biomedical engineering, exercise science, or neuroscience.

Project

This project will use medical images and video data to construct a computational model of a generic infant’s musculoskeletal system. This model will be used as part of our larger project assessing the health of infant’s neuromotor development from videos of their early movement patterns, from which risk of developing cerebral palsy and related conditions can be predicted.

The selected summer scholar will work alongside graduate students and research fellows in the Department of Exercise Sciences and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute.

Students applying for this project should have a demonstrated interest in at least one of the following subjects: biomechanics, biomedical engineering, exercise science, or neuroscience.

Project

This project aims to explore lived experiences and to understand what defines a successful outcome after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR), particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples. Participants in an ongoing study will be invited participate in one semi-structured interview (~30min) exploring their perspectives of their ACL reconstruction journey so far (~3-months post-surgery).

The project will involve transcription and analysis of interviews. The student can be involved in any interviews carried out during their project tenure. Interviews will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s recursive and iterative six-phase approach.

Project

We have recently discovered that rapid eye movements slow down when we are fatigued during exercise. This phenomenon appears to be brain-based and has the potential to compromise visual function.

The summer scholar will contribute to our ongoing studies in this area, assisting with the collection and analysis of data from cyclists immersed in a Virtual Reality environment designed to test visual attention and eye movement control during exercise at varying intensities.

The student will:

• Gain experience working with human participants in a research context
• Develop an understanding of how to measure and monitor physiological responses to exercise in the laboratory
• Be exposed to new techniques we are developing to measure brain function during exercise.

Some knowledge and an interest in exercise physiology and/or neuropsychology are helpful, but not required.