Another line of research has focused on visual search patterns, anticipation, attention, decision-making, and reactions of tennis players when having to react quickly and accurately under time constraints. Similar behaviors have been studied under car driving conditions. In other studies, EEG activity along with performance behaviors have been recorded while participants lean self-paced tasks with various cognitive strategies. Currently, a funded project is devoted to helping stroke patients re-acquire voluntary arm movements. These and many other types of studies relate motor learning concepts and principles to acquiring a movement capability.
Motor control is concerned with the mechanisms involved in performing coordinated movements.
Leading questions and explanations arise from studies on coordination. Understanding how people are able to move their arms through space to be at the right place at the right time to execute a coordinated action is still meager. Topics studied in our laboratory include bimanual movements, problems associated with initiating movements in those with Parkinson's disease, the force production of stroke patients, and fractionated reaction times of stroke patients. A minimum of 15 hours of course work must be taken in Exercise and Sport Sciences at or above the 5000 level. Students will be required to select a thesis topic with assistance from their major professor.