Reserach Summary
Research area of specialty
· Altered neural processing in chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Research background and interests
The overall theme of Dr. Murphy’s research is understanding how altering afferent input from the spine and limbs affects sensorimotor integration and motor control. She is also interested in understanding how the human central nervous system adapts in conditions such as chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression, and understanding the role of physical interventions in aiding the re-establishment of meaningful neural connections. In order to measure altered neural function in humans, she has acquired skills in a number of non-invasive techniques which can be used to measure changes in neural processing and function in humans. This includes nerve stimulation, somatosensory evoked potential techniques (SEPs) to measure processing of sensory input by the brain, electromyography to measure electrical activity in muscles, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a technique used to investigate the output of the human motor cortex. Recently she has also started to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure changes in muscle function and functional MRI to investigate changes in brain function with exercise.
Dr, Murphy’s research plan is to continue to investigate altered sensorimotor integration in response to repetitive activity, using both SEPs and TMS in laboratory based studies. She is also involved in questionnaire development on neck pain incidence in laptop user and clinical studies of the effects of exercise and manipulation on sensorimotor integration in neck pain patients.
Research Collaborators
Dr. Heidi Haavik from New Zealand and Dr. Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting from Denmark on studies relating to altered neck input and upper limb sensorimotor integration;
Dr. Andrew Hogue (UOIT Faculty of Business and Information Technology) in gaming using serious games to teach safe lifting techniques to professions at high risk of back pain; and
Multi-disciplinary team from Lakeridge Mental Health, the University of Toronto and Harvard University looking at the mechanisms by which exercise improves brain function.
UOIT Graduate Student Research
PhD supervisor for Michael Willams-Bell (2011-in progress). Working title: The Effects of Thermal Stress on Cognitive Decision Making in Firefighters;·
Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) thesis supervisor for Jessica Bossé (2010-in progress). Working title: The Effect of Motor Training on Sensorimotor Integration;
MHSc thesis supervisor for Julian Daligadu (2010-in progress).Working title: The Role of the Cerebellum in Changes in Corticomotor Output Observed Following Motor Training;
MHSc thesis co-supervisor for Erin Dancey (2010-in progress). Working title: The Effect of Experimental Pain on Sensorimotor Integration and Cortico-motor Output.
MHSc thesis co-supervisor for Joanne Gourgouvelis (2010-in progress).Working title: The Role of Exercise in Promoting Hippocampal Activation and Improving Memory;
MHSc thesis supervisor for Ian Barker (2009 to 2011) – Alterations in Neck Muscle Performance and Proprioception with Fatique, Altered Posture and Recurrent Neck Pain; and
MHSc thesis supervisor for Diana Gray (2009 to 2011) – Development of Instruments to Assess Physiological and Physical Neck Pain Risk.
· Altered neural processing in chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Research background and interests
The overall theme of Dr. Murphy’s research is understanding how altering afferent input from the spine and limbs affects sensorimotor integration and motor control. She is also interested in understanding how the human central nervous system adapts in conditions such as chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression, and understanding the role of physical interventions in aiding the re-establishment of meaningful neural connections. In order to measure altered neural function in humans, she has acquired skills in a number of non-invasive techniques which can be used to measure changes in neural processing and function in humans. This includes nerve stimulation, somatosensory evoked potential techniques (SEPs) to measure processing of sensory input by the brain, electromyography to measure electrical activity in muscles, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a technique used to investigate the output of the human motor cortex. Recently she has also started to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure changes in muscle function and functional MRI to investigate changes in brain function with exercise.
Dr, Murphy’s research plan is to continue to investigate altered sensorimotor integration in response to repetitive activity, using both SEPs and TMS in laboratory based studies. She is also involved in questionnaire development on neck pain incidence in laptop user and clinical studies of the effects of exercise and manipulation on sensorimotor integration in neck pain patients.
Research Collaborators
Dr. Heidi Haavik from New Zealand and Dr. Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting from Denmark on studies relating to altered neck input and upper limb sensorimotor integration;
Dr. Andrew Hogue (UOIT Faculty of Business and Information Technology) in gaming using serious games to teach safe lifting techniques to professions at high risk of back pain; and
Multi-disciplinary team from Lakeridge Mental Health, the University of Toronto and Harvard University looking at the mechanisms by which exercise improves brain function.
UOIT Graduate Student Research
PhD supervisor for Michael Willams-Bell (2011-in progress). Working title: The Effects of Thermal Stress on Cognitive Decision Making in Firefighters;·
Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) thesis supervisor for Jessica Bossé (2010-in progress). Working title: The Effect of Motor Training on Sensorimotor Integration;
MHSc thesis supervisor for Julian Daligadu (2010-in progress).Working title: The Role of the Cerebellum in Changes in Corticomotor Output Observed Following Motor Training;
MHSc thesis co-supervisor for Erin Dancey (2010-in progress). Working title: The Effect of Experimental Pain on Sensorimotor Integration and Cortico-motor Output.
MHSc thesis co-supervisor for Joanne Gourgouvelis (2010-in progress).Working title: The Role of Exercise in Promoting Hippocampal Activation and Improving Memory;
MHSc thesis supervisor for Ian Barker (2009 to 2011) – Alterations in Neck Muscle Performance and Proprioception with Fatique, Altered Posture and Recurrent Neck Pain; and
MHSc thesis supervisor for Diana Gray (2009 to 2011) – Development of Instruments to Assess Physiological and Physical Neck Pain Risk.