Perceptual Motor Group Members

Dr Amy Hayes

Image of Amy Hayes Amy earned a PhD in Psychology at the University of Oregon, USA, and prior to that a BSc in Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science at the University of California, Berkeley. She came to Bangor in 2000 to work as postdoctoral researcher in the Bangor University School of Psychology, and she joined the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences as a lecturer in 2002. Her research interests include cognitive and perceptual processes in Parkinson’s disease, functions of the basal ganglia, and the role of attention in perceiving and anticipating actions.

Most recently her research has focused on interactions between motor processes and emotion. In particular she and collaborators in the School of Psychology are investigating how the fluency of motor actions influences the emotional state of the actor. They have demonstrated that increased motor fluency is associated with positive feelings, even when the actions are mundane tasks such as picking up and moving household objects. Moreover, observers merely watching the fluent action also experience positive feelings. Continued research is investigating how the positive emotion associated with motor fluency might facilitate skill learning, as well as how motor fluency influences overall affective experience.

Email: a.hayes@bangor.ac.uk

Bangor University staff page

Andrew Cooke

Andrew obtained his undergraduate degree from Bangor University in 2007 and his PhD from the University of Birmingham in 2010. His research investigates psychophysiological responses to competition / stress, and the psychophysiological response patterns that characterise optimal human performance. He also conducts bio/neurofeedback research designed to train individuals to produce optimal psychophysiological response patterns during movement preparation. In his spare time he enjoys playing and watching most sports, particularly football, golf, tennis and table tennis.

Dr. Gavin Lawrence

Gavin completed his PhD at Bangor University in 2005 in psychomotor behavior. Specifically, how movements are planned and controlled with and without the availability of vision. Following completion of his PhD Gavin spent two years as a Postdoctoral researcher within the Motor and Behavioral Science Research Group at the University of Leeds. Whilst there, he produced research into the mechanisms of control and disorders of co-ordination in conditions such as hemiplegic cerebral palsy and developmental coordination disorder. Recently, Gavin received funding from the European Social Fund to conduct further research into enhancing the motor skills of individuals with learning disabilities. In addition to the above, his research interests focus on skill acquisition and the attainment of expertise. Specifically, developing training to help performers succeed in stressful and anxious environments, investigating ‘what’ are the most efficacious training techniques for different extreme environments and, how movement control is effected during and as a result of exposure to different environments (i.e. hypoxic, sleep deprivation). He is a keen sports man and is passionate about applying the research within the field of Motor Control and Learning to help individuals and teams accelerate towards the attainment of expertise.

Email: g.p.lawrence@bangor.ac.uk

Bangor University staff page

Ed Barney

Ed received a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Sciences from Exeter University in 2004. During his undergraduate degree he began sailing full time as part of Skandia Team GBR culminating in a top 10 world ranking and a position as tune-up boat for the Olympic representatives at Beijing 2008. He has since worked in the special needs environment whilst coached a number of junior and youth national sailing squads. He returned to academia and studied for an MSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences at Loughborough University in 2009/2010. More recently Ed has embarked on a Ph.D. funded by the English and Wales Cricket Board with the purpose of creating and validating a talent prediction model, which will identify players with potential to become the worlds best. His research currently focuses on a battery of tests aimed at assessing the requisite psychological, physiological and skill competencies for future success. Ed’s research interests lie primarily in the identification, quantification and conceptualisation of ‘talent’. Further interests lie in the implicit link between talent and the acquisition of expertise and expert performance.

Email: pepc13@bangor.ac.uk

Niamh Reilly MSc

Niamh Niamh obtained a BSc (hons) in Psychology from Loughborough University, a MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Bangor University, and is currently studying for a Ph.D. which is funded by the European Social Fund.

Her research aims to identify new techniques for training people with a learning disability to develop employment skills and to educate those who deliver this training. Enhancing the motor skills of people with a learning disability can help people to gain independence and more control over their own lives.

Niamh is passionate about disability sport. She works with Mencap Cymru to develop sport and leisure strategies and in the first year of her Ph.D. she formed and managed a Welsh National football team for people with a learning disability who participated in the European Championships in Geneva, May 2010.

Niamh has a keen interest in applied sport psychology and has a great deal of experience working with Athletics at grass roots, national and international levels, as well as Association Football, Golf and Gaelic Football.

Other research interests include the effects of anxiety on motor production and the use of skill acquisition techniques to eliminate choking, imagery use and training, coaching and athlete development.

Niamh is a keen sportswoman and has represented Ireland at an international level for athletics, specifically javelin and heptathlon. She coaches and competes in Athletics, Hockey and Gaelic Football for Bangor University and is a professional dog walker.

Email: pepa2d@bangor.ac.uk