John Semmler

Associate Professor John Semmler

Associate Professor

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a teaching and research academic with expertise that spans Neuroscience, Physiology and Exercise Science disciplines. My research involves detailed human physiological studies on the mechanisms responsible for changes in motor performance throughout the lifespan. This research is regularly supported by major funding bodies, is presented at numerous national and international conferences, and is published in the best journals in the field. I have a long history of successful research supervision and training, which includes mentoring externally funded research fellows, graduating numerous PhD students, and regularly supporting honours and undergraduate placements in the laboratory. I have also held numerous senior University administrative roles, such as the Convenor of the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee, and I serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Physiology.

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN MOVEMENT GROUP

I am an experienced neurophysiologist and Director of the Neurophysiology of Human Movement group. Research within this group focuses on the neural mechanisms responsible for changes in human movement throughout the life span. We specialise in the use of brain stimulation techniques to painlessly and non-invasively measure and modify the brain’s control of skeletal muscles under diverse conditions, such as ageing, exercise, training, fatigue and mild traumatic brain injury. The overall goal is to understand how the healthy nervous system functions to control movements in different situations, and how it may adapt in conditions involving neurological or neuromuscular injury.

AVAILABLE PROJECTS

Project 1

Title: BRAIN OSCILLATIONS AND HUMAN MOVEMENT

Description: Motor areas of the brain oscillate when we move, with different oscillations responsible for different aspects of behaviour. Oscillations in the gamma band (30-90 Hz) play a key role in brain plasticity and motor learning that are thought to be driven by inhibitory circuits. This study will use non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to explore the physiological basis and functional significance of this intriguing brain rhythm, and investigate in new ways how it can be manipulated to improve motor behaviour and learning.

Projects available for: Honours and HDR

Location: Helen Mayo Building (Frome Rd)

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special Requirements: None.

 

Project 2

Title: BRAIN PLASTICITY AND MOTOR FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS

Description: Recent studies from our group show that specific brain circuits important for motor system plasticity are altered in older adults. Do changes in these circuits contribute to impaired motor performance and learning in older adults? Can we modify plasticity and learning by strengthening these circuits in older adults? Several studies using brain stimulation and electroencephalography (EEG) in human participants are planned to address these research questions.

Projects available for: Honours and HDR

Location: Helen Mayo Building (Frome Rd)

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special Requirements: None.

 

Project 3

Title: NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF EXERCISE

Description: It is now well accepted that physical activity and exercise is capable of providing benefits to the central nervous system (CNS) that can maintain or enhance brain and motor function. However, it is not known whether different features of the exercise (intensity, duration, type) influence brain function (excitability, connectivity, plasticity), or whether this can be harnessed to improve motor function. Several studies using brain stimulation, electroencephalography (EEG) and motor skill learning will be performed to examine the neural mechanisms that influence brain and motor function with different types of exercise in humans.

Projects available for: Honours and HDR

Location: Helen Mayo Building (Frome Rd)

Research project start: Semester 1 and 2

Special Requirements: None.

 

Project 4

Title: IMPROVING MOTOR SKILL LEARNING IN HUMANS

Description: The ability to learn new motor skills is a fundamental requirement for participation in modern society, but this ability often deteriorates with neurological injury. Many factors are known to influence motor skill learning even in healthy individuals, such as practice structure, fatigue, handedness, exercise, gender and advancing age. The aim of this project is to explore one or more of these factors in an effort to understand the parameters that produce the optimum conditions for improved motor skill learning in humans.

Projects available for: Undergraduate

Location: Helen Mayo Building (Frome Rd)

Research project start: Semester 1 or 2

Special Requirements: None.

 

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS AND COLLABORATORS

  • Brain Plasticity and Connectivity in Older Adults (Opie, Ziemann, Semmler).  To investigate the role of age-related changes in specific brain networks to differences in motor performance and learning.
  • Motor Cortex Excitability and Lower Limb Muscles (Hand, Opie, Sidhu, Semmler). To investigate the TMS parameters for optimal stimulation of cortical representations to lower limb muscles.
  • Brain Plasticity and Learning in Endurance Athletes (Hand, Opie, Sidhu, Semmler). To examine the effect of chronic endurance training on motor cortical plasticity and motor skill learning.
  • Acute Exercise and Plasticity in Endurance Athletes (Hand, Opie, Sidhu, Semmler).  To examine the effect of acute exercise on motor cortical plasticity in experienced cyclists.
  • Ageing and TMS-Induced I wave Facilitation (Sasaki, Opie, Hand, Semmler). To examine the relationship between the modulation of late I-waves and short-interval intracortical facilitation in young and old adults.
  • Intracortical Inhibition and TMS-EEG (Sasaki, Opie, Semmler). To examine the relationship between different measures of intracortical inhibition and the TMS-evoked EEG potential.
  • Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Plasticity (Opie, Foo, Vo, Gatley, Semmler). To investigate if the hyperplasticity previously observed within motor cortex following mTBI varies over time, and to assess relationships with functional deficiencies.
  • Mild Traumatic Brain injury within Cognitive Domains (Opie, Foo, Vo, Gatley, Semmler). To assess effects of mTBI on neuroplasticity and intracortical function within premotor cortex, and to investigate how physiological alterations contribute to functional deficits.
  • Age-related Changes in Cerebellar-Motor Connectivity (Opie, Semmler). To investigate if the ageing process alters the magnitude or modulation of cerebellar-cortical connectivity, and to assess if such changes contribute to reductions in cortical plasticity and motor learning.  
  • Predicting Brain Plasticity in Older Adults (Fujiyama, Hinder, Vallence, Sidhu, Opie, Semmler). To assess the validity of two different screening procedures for predicting the response to transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults.
  • Fatigue and Brain Function in Older Adults (Otieno, Semmler, Sidhu). To quantify the change in cortical inhibition and motor learning with fatigue in younger and older adults.
  • Cerebellum and Intracortical Excitation in M1 (Liao, Semmler, Opie). To assess the influence of cerebellar projections on I-wave plasticity and excitability.

I have enjoyed regular support from major funding bodies since 2002. I have been awarded 1 National Institutes of Health (USA) RO1 grant ($1.2 million), 3 NHMRC Project grants, and 3 ARC Discovery Project grants. I have also received external competitive research support from the Australian Brain Foundation (3 grants) and the Neurosurgical Research Foundation (2 grants), along with numerous external competitive and intramural infrastructure awards (15 grants). Recent examples include:

2023: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB. ($74,657) 2023

2023: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. One of 9 CIs. ($86,874) 2023

2022: University DVCR Small Equipment Support. CIA ($10,164)

2022: Australian Brain Foundation. CIB. ($40,000)

2022: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB. ($87,303)

2021: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB. ($46,000)

2021: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. One of 13 CIs ($104,000)

2021: AMS/Biomedicine Small Equipment Grant Award. CIA. ($4,650)

2020-2023:  ARC Discovery Project (DP200101009). CIA. ($297,621)

2019: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB. ($47,652)

2018: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB. ($23,210)        

2018: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIC. ($6,330)

2018: Neurosurgical Research Foundation. CIB. ($30,000)

2017: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIA ($38,000)

2017: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB ($2,850)

2017: Faculty of Health and Medical Science Research Infrastructure Award. CIB ($5,283)        

2016: Neurosurgical Research Foundation. CIB. ($19,891)

2016: Adelaide Medical School Equipment Grant. CIB. ($9545)

2015: ARC Discovery Project (DP150100930). CIA. ($266,300)

Over the last 20 years I have been teaching a wide variety of course in Health Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry that includes large introductory classes (Physiology 2A, Dental Science and Practice, Foundations of Medicine, Medical Studies 2A) and smaller advanced classes which I coordinate (Neuromotor Control). My teaching is also internationally recognised by an appointment as a Physiology Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons (RACDS).

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Targeting brain oscillations for human movement Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nicholas Simon Nyskohus
    2023 Co-Supervisor Investigating neuronal oscillations and motor function in older adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ekaterina Voevodina
    2022 Co-Supervisor Investigating the role of neuronal oscillatory interactions within the physiological and functional effects of mTBI Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Emily Moore
    2021 Principal Supervisor Modulating cortical plasticity and connectivity to improve motor learning in older adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Wei-Yeh Merrick Liao
    2021 Principal Supervisor Interventions to manipulate neuroplasticity in ageing Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nishadi Nivanthika Gamage

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Brain Rhythms and Working Memory in Healthy Ageing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sabrina Sghirripa
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Impact of Fatiguing Exercise on Corticospinal Excitability and Motor Performance in Young and Older Adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Lavender Achieng Otieno
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Motor Cortex Plasticity and Skill Acquisition in Endurance-Trained Athletes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brodie Hand
    2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Investigating Intracortical Inhibitory Mechanisms Contributing to Age-related Deficits in Motor Function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr George McKenzie Opie
    2010 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Human Motor Cortex Plasticity Induction is Influenced by Multiple Factors Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr John Cirillo
    2006 - 2008 Co-Supervisor High Protein Dietary Patterns and Type 2 Diabetes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Karma Louise Pearce
    2006 - 2010 Principal Supervisor Motor Unit Activity and Neuromuscular Function after Exercise-Induced Damage to Elbow Flexor Muscles Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Tamara Dartnall

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Member School of Biomedicine Executive Committee The Univeristy of Adelaide Australia
    2020 - ongoing Member Adelaide Medical School Research Committee The University of Adelaide Australia
    2013 - 2014 Chair Human Research Ethics Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2006 - 2014 Member Human Research Ethics Committee University of Adelaide -

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2023 - ongoing Member Australasian Cognitive Neurosicence Society Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member Australasian Brain timulation Society Australia
    2004 - 2015 Member American Physiological Society United States
    2004 - 2004 Member Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology United States
    1999 - 2011 Member American College of Sports Medicine United States
    1998 - 2019 Member Society for Neuroscience United States
    1992 - 1997 Member Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society Australia
    1992 - ongoing Member Australasian Neuroscience Society Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2020 - ongoing Board Member Experimental Brain Research The University of Adelaide Australia
    2006 - ongoing Board Member Journal of Applied Physiology - -
  • Position: Associate Professor
  • Phone: 83137192
  • Email: john.semmler@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134362
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Helen Mayo South, floor 4
  • Org Unit: Medical Sciences
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