Welcome to the Perceptual-Motor Behaviour (PMB) Lab
One of my favourite ways to encourage students to think differently about movement is to have them watch this TED Talk by Dr. Daniel Wolpert. He is a neuroscientist who asks, “Why do we, and other animals, have brains?” Dr. Wolpert makes the case that the fundamental role of the brain is to “produce adaptable and complex movements.” Take 20 minutes now, if you have it, and watch his thought-provoking talk about human movement.
What is perceptual-motor behaviour? It can be described as an active process in which individuals (a) analyze environmental information received through the senses (perception), (b) select an appropriate course of action (decision-making), and (c) organize the motor system in preparation to execute the desired response (action). Researchers studying perceptual-motor behaviour aim to better understand human motor control and skill acquisition.
The long-term goals of my research program are two-fold. First, we need to expand our knowledge of the perceptual, cognitive, and motor processes that underlie the ability to predict another person's actions when planning and monitoring them. Second, perceptual-motor performance in clinical populations such as Down syndrome should be examined. Although my research interests are broad (see my publications and conference presentations), one fundamental question ties my research program together: How does the brain organize, integrate, and translate sensory input into purposeful and coordinated action?
Research funded by
