Laboratory Name:

Exercise Psychology Laboratory

Institution:

University of Georgia

Department of Exercise Science

Key Faculty:

Rod K. Dishman 

Patrick J. O’Connor

Contact:

Rod K. Dishman, rdishman@coe.uga.edu, 

Patrick J. O'Connor, poconnor@coe.uga.edu, 

Research Overview:

The Exercise Psychology Laboratory’s research program focuses largely on psychophysiological responses and adaptations to acute and chronic exercise as well as exercise adherence. In recent years, Dr. Dishman and his students have examined the effects of exercise training on brain noradrenergic and serotonergic systems, including gene transcription for neuroregulating proteins, as well as the interaction of these changes with neuroendocrine responses to non-exercise stressors using a rat model. Most of this research bears on understanding the influence of physical activity on stress responses and major depression. This work also has been extended to examine immunity, focusing on Natural Killer cytotoxicity, and to benzodiazepine/GABA systems for the study of anxiety reduction with exercise. In recent years, Dr. O’Connor and his students have focused on better understanding exercise-related muscle pain. However, he is also interested in the effects of exercise on moods, such as anxiety and depression, as well as relationships between physical activity and circadian rhythms. “We currently offer a research based program and have no interest in applied sport psychology defined as working with athletes to enhance performance without scientific evaluation of the usefulness of the application,” states Dr. O’Connor. “We are, however, interested in scientifically determining, if, how, when, and for whom psychology may enhance athletic performance.” Recently, Dr. Phillip D. Tomporowski joined the research group. His research focuses on the effects of exercise on attentional mechanisms and information processing. More information can be obtained from the Exercise Psychology Laboratory’s web site: http://www.coe.uga.edu/exs/labexpsy.html

 Recent Publications:

Cook DB, O'Connor PJ, Ray CA. Muscle pain perception and sympathetic     nerve activity to exercise during opioid modulation.  Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2000, 279(5): R1565-73.

Dishman RK, Renner KJ, White-Welkley JE, Burke KA, Bunnell BN.         Treadmill exercise training augments brain norepinephrine response to familiar and novel stress. Brain Res Bull. 2000, 15;52(5): 337-42.

O'Brien PM, O'Connor PJ. Effect of bright light on cycling performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000, 32(2): 439-47.

O'Neal HA, Van Hoomissen JD, Holmes PV, Dishman RK. Prepro-galanin  messenger RNA levels are increased in rat locus coeruleus after treadmill exercise training. Neurosci Lett. 2001, 16;299(1-2):69-72.

Tomporowski PD. The effects of physical and mental training on the mental   abilities of older adults. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 1997, 5: 9-26.

Dulaney Cl, Tomporowski. Attention and cognitive skill acquisition in             individuals with mental retardation. In DJ Weeks, R Chua & D Elliot (Eds.), Perceptual-motor behavior in Down Syndrome, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2000, 175-197.

Sport Psychology Lab Profiles