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    Neurophysiology

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Neurophysiology Research Group

The Neurophysiology Research Group aims to investigate human brain and nervous system mechanisms that underpin the body’s ability to contract skeletal muscles, how it contributes to fatigue, and causes of weakness in both healthy and clinical populations.

Neurophysiology Research Laboratory

Our dedicated research laboratory houses state-of-the-art brain and nerve stimulation and recording equipment in which our team are experts in, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, nerve and muscle stimulation, high-density electromyography, and intermittent hypoxia. The laboratory is made up of a growing team of researchers and postgraduate students and routinely hosts cadet students and visiting research fellows.

A current research focus of our laboratory has been to understand neural mechanisms of muscle weakness and fatigue in long COVID, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple sclerosis, as well as understanding motor unit adaptations to different types of exercise stimuli.

Group leader

Dr Christopher Latella

Contact details: c.latella@ecu.edu.au

Researchers & Collaborators

HDR students

  • James O’Loughlin, PhD candidate, Centre for Precision Health
  • Jacopo Bascherini, PhD candidate, School of Medical and Health Sciences
  • Maeve van Drunick, PhD candidate, School of Medical and Health Sciences
  • Malcolm Kalver, School of Medical and Health Sciences

Research partners

  • Emerge Australia is a national organisation providing information, support, and advocacy for people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID. Emerge has formally supported our laboratory studies in chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID as a research partner.

Current projects

  • Remote monitoring of physical activity and patient symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Recruitment of motor units during blood flow restricted isometric contractions
  • Human motor impairment in long covid: Brain and motoneuron dysfunction
  • Investigation of motoneuron firing behaviour and associations with symptom severity in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Motoneurons, muscle weakness and motor performance in multiple sclerosis
  • Performance, perceptual, central, and peripheral fatigue responses to different velocity-loss thresholds during free-weight resistance exercise
  • Are velocity loss thresholds an appropriate tool in controlling fatigue during resistance training?
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