Research Areas

- Motor control and learning
- Exercise and cognition
- Health and Aging

The aim of our research is to understand the processes and mechanisms of motor function and neurocognition in the context of performance, training and learning. We focus on the interaction between physical and neurocognitive performance, the early detection of cognitive decline and the effects of physical activity and training on brain, cognition and motor functions. Thereupon, we follow an interdisciplinary approach and use a broad spectrum of methods from exercise and training science, neuroscience and psychology. Another goal of our research is to link fundamental scientific research with clinical practice, competitive sports and activities of daily living. Accordingly, we develop, for example: ecologically valid paradigms to study multitasking or performance in real-life scenarios (e.g. driving a car, crossing a street), conduct mobility and mental health programs in care settings, and evaluate intervention programs focusing on cognitive aging, brain mechanisms and motor skills.

https://www.uni-muenster.de/Sportwissenschaft/en/Neuromotor-Behavior/forschung/index.html

Selected Publications

Hübner L, Godde B, Voelcker-Rehage C. (2018). Acute exercise as an intervention to trigger motor memory consolidation and EEG beta activity in older adults. Neural Plasticity, doi:10.1155/2018/4756785

Rudisch, J., Müller, K., Kutz, D. F., Brich, L., Sleimen-Malkoun, R., & Voelcker-Rehage, C. (2020). How age, cognitive function and gender affect bimanual force control. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 245. doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00245

Stojan, R. & Voelcker-Rehage, C. (2020) Neurophysiological correlates of age differences in driving behavior during concurrent subtask performance. NeuroImage. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117492.

Voelcker-Rehage, C., Godde, B. & Staudinger, U. M. (2011). Cardiovascular and coordination training differentially improve cognitive performance and neural processing in older adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 5 (26). doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2011.00026.

Voelcker-Rehage, C. & Niemann, C. (2013). Structural and functional brain changes related to physical activity in different age groups. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.01.028.

Honors and Awards

• Finalist first Frontiers annual Spotlight Award (2017)
• Poster Award (2010, Aging & Cognition), DVS Research Award (2009)
• Reinhard-Daugs-Research Award (2005)
• Dissertation Research Award (2003, Westfälisch-Lippische Universitätsgesellschaft e.V. & Karl Hofman Publisher)

Academic CV