Joined OCC in 2025
Research Project
How relevant are sensory input and motoric expertise for movement prediction? Using hurdling as an example, we test the assumption that visual as well as auditory feedback are essential for movement prediction and that the acquisition of an internal movement model via training affects functional, structural, and behavioral outcomes. Previous studies have shown that brief sensory distortion or deprivation during hurdling leads to compensatory adjustments in both motor performance and perception. However, the neural correlates and the relative importance of both domains still remain unknown. The proposed project investigates these questions by examining a hierarchically organized predictive mechanism that is assumed to govern both motor control and movement perception. In the study, which is conducted in cooperation with the German Sport University Cologne, 91 participants perform a hurdling prediction task in the MRI under conditions of brief sensory deprivation (visual and/or auditory masking). They then complete either a six-week hurdling training phase with deprived, amplified, or normal auditory feedback, or no hurdle training at all, followed by a second MRI session. Comparing pre- and post-training data will reveal behavioral, functional, and structural effects moderated by motor learning and driven by the acquisition of an internal movement model. This project aims to clarify the role of skill acquisition and sensory input on perception and prediction processes, ultimately informing applications in sports training and neurorehabilitation.
PhD Committee
Prof. Dr. Ricarda Schubotz
Prof. Dr. Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Dr. Sophie Siestrup
CV
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