Shemmell, Jonathan Dr

My overarching goal in research is to understand how movement and balance can be improved through the induction of plasticity in the sensorimotor nervous system. In pursuit of this goal, I aim to (i) understand the contributions made by cortical and subcortical sensorimotor systems to movement and balance control and (ii) develop novel methods for inducing lasting and beneficial plasticity in sensory and motor elements of the central nervous system. The Neuromotor Adaptation Laboratory, which I lead, is equipped with a state-of-the-art suite of data capture systems to enable detailed study of human movement and balance control. The lab is capable of recording human motion and force generation in 3 dimensions, whole muscle and single motor unit activity, as well as being equipped for stimulation of cortical, subcortical and peripheral elements of the nervous system. Our lab works with physiotherapists, neurologists and neurosurgeons in the Wollongong region to develop clinically relevant neuromodulation solutions.

Keywords: human movement; motor control; neuromechanics; neuroscience; stroke rehabilitation; balance; learning; neural plasticity; transcranial magnetic stimulation; neurophysiology; electromyography; brainstem; spinal cord; reflexes