Dr George Opie

Neurophysiology of Human Movement Laboratory

We utilise non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to better understand how the brain modifies its structure and function in response to experience. This enables us to better understand how the brain learns and stores new information, or recovers from injury. These techniques also allow us to design and test the viability of interventions for promoting beneficial changes within the brain in both health and disease. My research is particularly interested in applying these techniques to better understand changes in the brain associated with mild traumatic brain injury and healthy ageing, in addition to the neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to learning new motor skills.

Research Theme 1 - Investigating the neurophysiological effects of mild traumatic brain injury

Description: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is extremely common, affecting millions of people annually. In contrast to the common belief that these injuries are short-lived in nature, emerging evidence suggests that alterations within the brain may be present long after mTBI. The nature of these alterations, and how they contribute to long-term functional deficits associated with injury, is not well understood. Using advanced non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG), this research theme seeks to understand the neurophysiological alterations associated with brain injury in mTBI patients, to identify how these changes drive ongoing functional deficits and to develop interventions to help patients recover from these injuries. 

Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None

Research Theme 2 - Cortical mechanisms associated with age-related deficits in motor function

Description: A degradation of motor function represents one of the most common deficits associated with the ageing process. These changes can impede the ability of older adults to care for themselves, and may significantly reduce their quality of life. Given the rapidly ageing population, it is crucial to develop a better understanding of these deficits and how they might be treated. Subsequently, this research theme uses advanced non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG) to characterise changes within the brain that may contribute to age-related reductions in motor function, and to develop interventions to help older adults retain better motor function.

Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None

Research Theme 3 - Unravelling the role of cerebellar-motor connections in the acquisition of new motor skills.

Project description: Connections between the cerebellum and primary motor cortex are known to be critical mediators of the error-based acquisition of new motor skills. However, the nature of these connections and how they are modulated during learning, remains unclear. Using advanced non-invasive brain stimulation and imaging techniques, this research theme aims to develop new measures of cerebellar-motor connectivity that are sensitive to changes associated with the acquisition of novel motor skills, and to apply these to better understand cerebellar-motor connectivity in both health and disease.

Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None