Prof Jeff Summers
Professor
BSc MSc MA PhD Oregon
Contact Details
| Contact Campus |
Sandy Bay Campus |
| Building |
Humanities Building |
| Room Reference |
140 |
| Telephone |
+61 3 6226 2884 |
| Fax |
+61 3 6226 2883 |
| Email |
Jeff.Summers@utas.edu.au |
Teaching Responsibilities
Units
Publications
- Age-related differences in inhibitory processes during interlimb coordination. Fujiyama, H., Garry, M.I., Levin, O., Swinnen, S.P., & Summers, J.J 2009 * Brain Research 1262 38-47
- An ERP study of age-related differences in the central cost of interlimb coordination Fujiyama H, Garry MI, Martin FH, & Summers JJ 2010 * Psychophysiology 47 501-511
- Aging effects on event and emergent timing in bimanual coordination. Summers, J.J., Lewis, J., & Fujiyama, H 2010 * Human Movement Science 29 820-830
- Cognitive training in older adults Summers, J.J., Wolf, A., Elder, S., Summers, M., Limbrick, K., & Tyler, M 2010 * Alzheimers & Dementia 6 S163-S164
- Absence of cross-limb transfer of performance gains following ballistic motor practice in older adults Hinder, M.R., Schmidt, M.W., Garry, M.I., & Summers, J.J 2011 * Journal of Applied Physiology 110 166-175
- Evaluation of a multidimensional cognitive training program for healthy older adults Wolf, A., Elder, S., Summers, M., Tyler, M., Summers, J 2011 * Alzheimers & Dementia 7 S269-S270
- The effect of cognitive enhancement training program on source memory in older adults Limbrick, K., Fujiyama, H., Martin, F., & Summers J 2011 * Alzheimers & Dementia 7 S253
- Age-related differences in cortical excitability during a go/nogo task Fujiyama, H., Tandonnet, C., & Summers, J.J 2011 * Psychophysiology 48 1448-1455
Full Publication List
Research Interests
Cognitive and Motor Ageing: In understanding the ageing process, a central issue is to identify the physiological changes that cause cognitive and motor decline and explain the large variation in decline across individuals and cognitive domain. The research program has three related streams.
A. The neural correlates of age-related declines in motor function. This research involves the use of the electrophysiological techniques, electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate excitatory and inhibitory processes within the motor cortex during interlimb coordination in young and older adults.
B. The functional significance of age-related changes in cortical activation patterns. There is increasing evidence that the ageing brain is capable of functional reorganisation and may recruit additional areas to maintain performance on tasks and to learn new skills. The research is investigating the functional significance of the additional brain activations evident in some older adults by comparing task-related cortical activity in high and lower performing individuals.
C. The role of individual difference variables on responsiveness to cognitive training in older adults. This research is examining the long-term benefits of cognitive and motor training interventions and how best to adapt training for older individuals given this population’s substantial variability in life-histories, genotypes, and cognitive and physical functioning.
Related External Research Grants
- Summers, J.J., Verleger, R., & Fujiyama, H. “Age-related changes in brain activation: Indicators of deficiency, maturity, or compensation?” Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant (DP1094440)
- Summers, J.J. “Facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms during interlimb coordination in young and older adults”. Australian Research Council Discovery Project Grant (DP0770568)
- Summers, J.J., Elder, S.J., Summers, M.J., & Vickers, J. “Evaluation of a multidimensional cognitive enhancement training program for healthy older adults”. Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant (LP0991044)
Current and Supervised Project/s
- Age-related changes in brain activation: Indicators of deficiency, maturity, or compensation?
- Facilitatory and inhibitory mechanisms during interlimb coordination in young and older adults
- The relationship between motor fitness and cognitive function in older adults
- Efficacy of mindfulness meditation training in protecting against cognitive decline in older adults
- The effect of mindfulness meditation on cognitive functioning in healthy older adults: An EEG study
- Voluntary control of attention to pain faces
- Evaluation of a multidimensional cognitive enhancement program for healthy older adults
- The effect of cognitive enhancement training programmes in older adults: An ERP study
- Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ) and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults
- A longitudinal study of neuropsychological and neuromotor effects of low level manganese exposure
Research Project/s
