Professor of kinesiology Dr. Thomas A. Stoffregen and director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) gave insight into which category he felt should be added to the Nobel Prize.
The article, “What’s missing from the Nobel Prize? Scientists weigh in,” includes a poll conducted through LiveScience where scientists from around the world responded with categories they thought should be incorporated. Stoffregen explained that behavioral science should be added because a high volume of critical, deserving work is being accomplished in the field.
Wiese-Bjornstal quoted in San Francisco Chronicle
Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of kinesiology, was recently quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article on collegiate female athletes and career-ending concussions. In the piece, “Concussions cost 2 Stanford athletes their careers“, she says that there isn’t strong evidence that women are more likely to report their concussions than men.
Stoffregen links Apple’s iOS 7 and motion sickness
Professor of kinesiology Dr. Thomas A. Stoffregen and director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) was quoted in the Live Science article, “Is iOS 7 Making You Feel Sick? Here’s Why.”
Post by LiveScience.
Stoffregen, one of the experts, said that he was not surprised that many people using iOS 7 were feeling motion sickness and added, “As imaging technology develops across platforms, and we get greater frame rates and resolution, we find an increasing tendency for it to make people sick.”
Stoffregen also remarked on motion sickness in the article, “Apple Inc’s iOS 7 Users Report Motion Sickness After Prolonged Use of iOS 7 iPhone, iPad; How to Reduce Parallax Effect,” an article featured in International Business Times. He explains that motion sickness may become worse as people continue to use digital devices.
Ji delivers keynote lecture at conference in Dubai
Li Li Ji, Ph.D., director of the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science, delivered a keynote lecture at the 5th International Council of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (ICHPERD) conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on September 20. Photo shows Ji with Dr. Al Sherif, Secretary General of ICHPERD and Director of Dubai Sport Council.
Ji was invited by the president of ICHPERD to give his lecture titled, “Sport Science and Technology Update: Cell Signaling”.
Aman to publish as lead author in prominent neurology journal
Joshua Aman, Ph.D., post-doctoral research associate in the Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory (HSCL), served as lead author of, “Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation improves somatosensory perception in Parkinson’s disease.” This research sparked Aman’s interest early on and was his dissertation project as a doctoral student. His research offers the first evidence that subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) improves haptic precision. This also indicates that somatosensory function is improved by STN-DBS and may be the catalyst behind improved motor function.
The article is set to publish in Movement Disorders, which has has an impact factor of 4.558 and ranks 23rd among 191 clinical neurology journals. Further, its Eigenfactor is ranked eighth among all clinical neurology journals.
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Fourth annual Gopher Adventure Race is another “runaway” success
On Friday, October 4, over 100 Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies (RPLS) student volunteers, numerous race sponsors, and 200 race participants embarked on the 4th Annual Gopher Adventure Race. Modeled after the popular television show, The Amazing Race, participants engaged in a variety of physical and mental challenges while racing through East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul. Karen Kaler, wife of President Eric Kaler, competed for the second year in a row and reported having “a blast.”
This year, race participants experienced the U in a whole new way by salsa dancing, playing broomball, unicycling, racing in hamster balls, and even eating a few crickets and worms. The same top 2012 team (Phillip Kelly and Collin Randolph) were again the overall race winners this year and won a four-day kayaking trip to the Apostle Islands with GAR’s race partner, Wilderness Inquiry.
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Gao has two articles published as lead author
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab (PAEL), recently had two research articles published as lead author.
The first study is titled, “Examining elementary school children’s level of enjoyment of traditional tag games vs. interactive dance games,” and was published by Psychology, Health & Medicine. Gao’s research found that children reported significantly higher scores in enjoyment toward exergaming than they did toward traditional physical education games.
The second study, “The impact of an exergaming intervention on urban school children’s physical activity levels and academic outcomes,” was published in Asian Journal of Exercise and Sport Science. The findings from this study suggest that the implementation of exergaming could have a positive effect on urban children’s physical activity levels, task values toward mathematics, and mathematics grades over time.
Wiese-Bjornstal keynotes at the Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine Fall Meeting
Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, associate professor of kinesiology, gave one of the keynote addresses today at the Northland Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting being held at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. Her talk was titled, “Sports medicine psychology: Psychological and social dimensions of sport injury”.
Wheatley presents abstracts at 2013 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference
Courtney Wheatley, Ph.D., presented two abstracts at the 2013 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Wheatley presented an abstract entitled, “Influence of the Vibralung Device on Pulmonary Function and Sputum Expectoration in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis,” at an oral abstract session and an abstract entitled, “Moderate Intensity Exercise Can Mediated Comparable Increases in Exhaled Chloride as Albuterol in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis,” at an abstract poster session.
CM Wheatley, SE Baker, CM Daines, H Phan, M Martinez, WJ Morgan, and EM Snyder. Influence of the VibraLung Device on Pulmonary Function and Sputum Expectoration in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. North American Cystic Fibrosis 2013. Pediatric Pulmonology; 45:S36:357 abstract #416.
CM Wheatley, MA Morgan, SE Baker, EC Wong, SR Karpen, MG Martinez, WJ Morgan, EM Snyder. Moderate Intensity Exercise can Mediate Comparable Increases in Exhaled Chloride as Albuterol in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis. North American Cystic Fibrosis 2013. Pediatric Pulmonology; 45:S36:345 abstract #385. Nominated for Junior Investigators Best Abstract in Clinical Research Award (top 5 finalist)
Doctoral students have strong showing at Twin Cities Marathon weekend events
School of Kinesiology Ph.D. students Jillian Tholen, Emma Lee, and Chris Lundstrom [pictured right] competed with 28,000 individuals in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon races this weekend. Tholen placed 3rd in the TC 10-miler with a time of 59:46, while Emma Lee placed 7th in the same event with a time of 61:13.
Chris Lundstrom has been lauded as the first Minnesotan to finish the Twin Cities Marathon. He placed 2nd in his age group and 32nd overall with a time of 2:26.22.
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Delegation from Shanghai Jiao Tong University visits School of Kinesiology; Student Exchange Program Agreement enacted
As part of College of Education and Human Development and School of Kinesiology strategic globalization alliance planning, a five-member delegation from Shanghai Jiao Tong University recently visited the School of Kinesiology.
Jiao Tong University is known as one of the most prestigious universities in China. Jiao Tong University was visited by President Kaler this past summer when he toured three cities in China. The world-class university has approximately 40,000 students enrolled including a medical, engineering, and law school. The delegation was led by their Kinesiology department Chairwoman Dr. Lijuan Mao and past chairman Dr. Qilin Sun, both very influential leaders in China in kinesiology, curriculum and athletics.
The visit was highlighted by a meeting with College of Education and Human Development Dean Jean Quam, in which a University of Minnesota and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Student Exchange Program Agreement was executed. Both Jiao Tong University and the University of Minnesota will facilitate the exchange of undergraduate, graduate and visiting scholars along with promoting collaboration between the two universities in research and academics.
Students in School of Kinesiology PE classes learn from pros
The School of Kinesiology’s Physical Activity Program (PAP) involved 6,700 students last year in more than 50 different physical activity courses. These courses help to fulfill the University’s mission to create well-rounded students in stimulating learning environments.
PE 1036 – Racquetball is an excellent example of University students learning a new skill from renowned athletes. PE Instructors Brian Phillips and Mitch Hoffman both play racquetball competitively and are passionate about teaching students the sport they love.
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LaVoi remarks on sport parents in Star Tribune
Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, teaching faculty in the School of Kinesiology and associate director of the Tucker Center, describes the role of a sports parent in, “Don’t drop this ball: the plight of the totally uncoordinated sports parent,” an article in the Star Tribune.
In the article LaVoi gives insight to the uncoordinated sports parent on how to support their young athlete even if they did not excel in athletics. She explains that when children believe their parents view them as skillful athletes they are more likely to stay positive and participate in that activity as they develop. Dr. LaVoi further explains that it is critical for parents to give unconditional support to their child and not critique aspects of the game.
Allison comments on NDSU’s efforts to retain football coach
Rayla Allison, J.D., associate director and lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, was quoted in a recent article in Fargo-Moorhead’s INFORUM on the details of North Dakota State University’s renewed contract with head football coach Craig Bohl. Allison commented on the unusual nature of the contract and specifically addressed the payout provisions and the one-year recruiting ban if Bohl leaves the NDSU team for a larger football program.
Dengel and Bosch publish in Journal of Strength and Condition Research
Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D., a professor of kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, and doctoral candidate 
Tyler Bosch [pictured at right] are authors of an article to be published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. The article entitled “Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density of National Football League Players” examined body composition and bone density in over 400 professional football player.
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KSTP highlights Gao’s exergaming research and benefits for students
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab (PAEL), was featured on KSTP in a feature on how “Exercise-Based Video Games May Improve Students’ Fitness, Grades.”
The piece describes the concept of exergaming and how Gao is working with the Ann Sullivan school in Minneapolis on his research. His previous studies point to many different benefits of exergaming for students.
Exergaming is great for fitness because students are moving, according to Gao. But it may also “…help improve grades because it forces students to use the same part of their brain as they might for — as an example — a math problem,” he said.
Research on exergaming and its impact on grades will begin next week in the school.
See the KSTP story below and read more on Gao’s research.
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Ingraham discusses CrossFit risks on WCCO
Dr. Stacy Ingraham, lecturer in the School of Kinesiology, was the featured expert in a WCCO segment about the risks associated with the popular exercise methodology, CrossFit. In the piece, Ingraham describes CrossFit as a “free-for-all”—which, she warns, may not be a good thing for beginners. Ingraham’s opinions begin at 1:26 in the video below.
Dengel to publish in Pediatric Blood & Cancer
Professor of kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology (LIHP), Dr. Donald Dengel, is the lead author of an article to be published in the journal Pediatric Blood & Cancer. The article titled, “Signs of Early Sub-Clinical Atherosclerosis in Childhood Cancer Survivors,” examines the effects of cancer treatments in children and adolescents who were survivors of cancer.
The New York Times features Stoffregen, APAL
Professor of kinesiology Dr. Thomas A. Stoffregen and his work as the director of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory (APAL) was highlighted in a recent blog in The New York Times‘ Well section. The feature, “Rethinking Motion Sickness,” relays Stoffregen’s hypothesis that motion sickness is connected to posture and gait, not imbalances in the inner ear.
Author Peter Andrey Smith writes, “For decades now, Dr. Stoffregen, 56, director of the university’s Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory, has been amassing evidence in support of a surprising theory about the causes of motion sickness. The problem does not arise in the inner ear, he believes, but rather in a disturbance in the body’s system for maintaining posture. The idea, once largely ignored, is beginning to gain grudging recognition.”
Gao publishes exergaming study in Journal of Sport and Health Science
Dr. Zan Gao, assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity Epidemiology Lab (PAEL), published an article in the September issue of Journal of Sport and Health Science. The purpose of this study was to compare children’s physical activity levels, self-efficacy, and enjoyment when experiencing Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and aerobic dance.
Gao’s research on this topic was also recently featured in the CEHD Vision 2020 Blog in an article titled, “Yes, Video Games Can Combat Childhood Obesity.”
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