Testing the efficacy of virtual reality and action simulation training for improving balance in children/young adults with movement coordination difficulties
Motor coordination difficulties such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are characterised by problems with movement planning, execution and control.
Children and young adults with DCD are more likely to lose balance during whole-body movements when compared to typically developing peers.
Action simulation (AOMI) training involving a person watching and imagining movements can improve movement execution and balance. Our research has demonstrated robust movement benefits for AOMI training, including complex whole-body movements in young adults.
Recent advancements in relatively low-cost virtual reality (VR) technologies have increased VR usage among children and young adults. VR training offers children and young adults with DCD an opportunity to gain movement competence through sport participation, without constant comparison with their typically developing peers.
Removal of this barrier can help children and young adults with DCD attain the well-documented benefits associated with sports participation, such as improved whole-body coordination and balance.
PhD projects in this area will explore the efficacy of VR and/or AOMI interventions on balance and functional mobility in children and young adult populations with DCD.
Supervisor's interests
Adam Bruton will be the primary supervisor for the doctoral researcher.
His research interests span the fields of sport psychology, experimental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, and revolve around the simulation of action through virtual reality, motor imagery and/or action observation.
Adam’s research adopts a multidisciplinary approach to understand how interventions based on these forms of simulation can be used to improve motor skill execution or (re)learning.
This research considers the interactions between neural, cognitive, psychological and behavioural responses to such interventions in an attempt to comprehensively understand their efficacy for specific movement difficulties or challenges experienced by the target population.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for the above PhD topic please follow the steps below:
- Contact the supervisor by email or phone to discuss your interest and find out if you would be suitable. Supervisor details can be found on this topic page. The supervisor will guide you in developing the topic-specific research proposal, which will form part of your application.
- Click on the 'Apply here' button on this page and you will be taken to the relevant PhD course page, where you can apply using an online application.
- Complete the online application indicating your selected supervisor and include the research proposal for the topic you have selected.
Good luck!
This is a self funded topic
Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. See more information here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Research-degrees/Research-degree-funding. The UK Government is also offering Doctoral Student Loans for eligible students, and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.
Meet the Supervisor(s)
Adam Bruton - Adam Bruton joined Brunel University London in October 2022 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Sport Psychology). Adam completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2010, before being awarded his PhD in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2015. His PhD research explored the utility of video-based interventions to improve confidence and performance in groups.
After completing his PhD, Adam worked as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Human Performance at the University of Roehampton from 2015-2022. During this time, Adam continued to research the use of movement simulation strategies such as imagery and observation in the contexts of sport and rehabilitation.
Carla Harkness-Armstrong - Dr Carla Harkness-Armstrong joined Brunel University London in June 2022 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Biomechanics). Carla completed her BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Northumbria University in 2016, before gaining her MSc in Sport and Clinical Biomechanics at Liverpool John Moores University in 2017. She was then awarded a PhD scholarship to continue her studies at Liverpool John Moores University, whereby her thesis focussed on the musculoskeletal mechanisms of paediatric idiopathic toe-walking.
Following completion of her PhD in 2021, Carla worked as a post-doctoral research associate in Biomechanics at Manchester Metropolitan University, working on a project aiming to improve the neuromuscular control of balance in children with developmental coordination disorder.
Aliah Shaheen - Aliah Shaheen joined the Division of Sports Science and Exercise in Brunel University London in 2018. She is an engineer by background, holding a BEng degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Birmingham and graduating with a PhD in Bioengineering from Imperial College London in 2010.
Following her PhD, she worked as a Research Associate in Imperial College London between 2010 and 2011 and then she joined the University of Surrey as a Lecturer in July of 2011. During her time in the University of Surrey, she supervised a number of PhD students, Postdoctoral researchers and Research Assistants working on experimental and computational biomechanics.
Her research focus is in the areas of functional morphology and movement coordination with applications in upper limb biomechanics, active ageing and animal locomotion.
Rebecca Hings - Dr Rebecca Hings (pronouns: she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology) at Brunel University London. She is an expert in the emotional labour and wellbeing of sport, health, and exercise employees across a range of domains including high-performance sport, the NHS, and third sector sport organisations.
Beckie is a founding member of the international
Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Development and Training research group that focuses on advancing the practice of sport and performance psychologists through evidence-based research, education and training.
Beckie graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a First Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science and went on to complete her PhD in Organisation Studies at Portsmouth Business School. Beckie's doctoral research examined how and why sports medicine and science practitioners manage their emotions when interacting with clients as part of their professional practice. Prior to her role at Brunel, she was a Research Planning Officer (Impact) at the University of Birmingham.