Faculty Research Areas

Human Anatomy Laboratory

This laboratory provides students with an opportunity to learn about the human body through detailed dissections of human cadavers. Groups of four students per cadaver discuss and then dissect to learn the true size, shape, and organization of body structures. The experience helps to prepare students for graduate study in medicine, physical therapy, and other health fields. Though not required, Kinesiology & Health Sciences students are encouraged to take this laboratory course (KINE 314/315) during the same semester that they take the human anatomy lecture course (KINE 303).

For more information, contact Professor McCoy, at [[rwmcco]].

Biomechanics Laboratory

The Biomechanics Laboratory is located on the second level of Adair Hall on the main campus of The College of William and Mary. Current biomechanics research investigates the effectiveness of the Wii Fit Balance exercise on standing balance and gait mechanics in the elderly.  The walking mechanics of the participants will be examined to determine if the balance training had an effect on walking velocity, stride length, stride rate, trunk lean, and foot clearance.

For more information, click here  or contact the lab director, Professor McCoy, at [[rwmcco]].

Human Performance Laboratory

Research in this laboratory is involved in investigating the effects of aging, gender, and disuse in metabolic, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular function.  The Human Performance Laboratory is located in the bottom level of Adair Hall on the main campus of The College of William and Mary.

For more information,contact the lab director, Professor Deschenes, at [[mrdesc]].

Cellular and Biochemistry Laboratory

This laboratory focuses on the neuromuscular and neuroendocrine systems. These systems are studied at both the cellular and organismal levels, particularly in response to increased (e.g., exercise) or decreased activity. Recent work includes investigation of the interaction of aging with alterations in physical activity.

For more information, contact the lab director, Professor Deschenes, at [[mrdesc]].

Microscopy Laboratory

The laboratory is dedicated to revealing the morphological adaptations of the neuromuscular system ( neuromuscular junctions and muscle fibers) to exercise training and unloading (disuse) in aged and young systems.

For more information, contact the lab director, Professor Deschenes, at [[mrdesc]].

Exercise Psychology Laboratory

Exercise Psychology is an interdisciplinary area of kinesiology that includes sub-disciplines such as, exercise science, health science, health psychology, behavioral psychology, and psychophysiology. Research in this laboratory addresses planning physical activity and exercise interventions to promote active lifestyles. We primarily focus on planning community physical activity interventions to prevent chronic disease in high risk and underserved populations. Another main area of study in our laboratory is the relationship between physical activity and psychophysiological risk factors for hypertension in women who are at increased risk for developing high blood pressure.

For more information, contact the lab director, Professor Jackson, at [[emjack]].

Motor Control Laboratory

The major research focus of the motor control laboratory is primarily in the area of motor imagery and in the area of hemispheric communication.  For example, in the motor control laboratory, experiments are designed to better understand the relationship between motor imagery and motor control. We are building on the postulate that while motor imagery and motor control can affect  each other they do not cognitively represent each other. We also conduct experiments on the behavioral manifestations of hemispheric communication. Our preliminary data indicates that hemispheres inhibit each other during response initiation and during the execution of very simple responses. However, in some situations the hemispheres seem to cooperate with each other during the execution of more complex responses.

For more information, contact the lab director, Professor Kohl, at [[rmkohl]].

Molecular and Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory

The major focus of this laboratory is on exercise-induced changes in cardiac and vascular function related to changes in molecular mechanisms regulating heat shock proteins and nitric oxide synthases. Physical inactivity (as with hypertension, smoking, and high cholesterol) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and the most prevalent of the four. Although exercise has been shown to provide a protective effect against high blood pressure and the development of atherosclerosis, the mechanism of this effect is unknown. In addition, while it is apparent that both nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and stress proteins play an important role in cardioprotection and vascular function, little is known about exercise-induced changes in NOS and/or stress protein expression in the vasculature. Using models of exercise and various disease states, this laboratory can evaluate exercise-induced changes in gene and protein expression in the cardiovascular system and examine their role in preventing endothelial dysfunction in aging, hypertension, diabetes, and ischemia/reperfusion.

For more information, click here or contact the lab director, Professor Harris, at [[mbharr]].

Vascular Physiology Laboratory

Research in this lab focuses on the function of arteries in normal and diseased states. The research group is particularly interested in the role of gap junctions (channels that connect the interiors of neighboring cells) in vascular function, and how the function of these channels is altered in those with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and during the process of vascular remodeling.

For more information, click here or contact the lab director, Professor Looft-Wilson, at [[rlooft]].

The Jack Borgenicht Altitude Research Facility

The Jack Borgenicht Altitude Physiology Research Facility is located at 49 ft. altitude and is usually near 752 torr, approximately sea level depending upon weather conditions. However, it can simulate atmospheres found at altitudes up to 18,000 feet. Find out more about this project being directed by principle investigator, Prof. and Dept. Chair Ken Kambis, Ph.D.