Brianna Cowling BSc (WLU)

Heres what Brianna did as an XNL Lab member from 2011 to 2013:

Theses completed:
The effects of whole-body fatigue on cortical excitability and force sensation (Honours
Undergraduate Thesis)
Excitability of the primary motor cortex and its relationship to force sensation (Directed
Study)
XNL Research Presentations:

The effects of whole body fatigue on cortical excitability and force sensation
(poster presentation at the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Toronto,
Ontario, October 16-19, 2013
The effects of whole body fatigue on cortical excitability and force sensation
(oral presentation at Exercise Neuroscience Group Meeting, Oshawa, Ontario,
June 13-14, 2013.

Awards and Scholarships:

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (Masters), Western University, Sept 2014- Aug 2015, $15,000.
NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship (Masters), Western University, Sept 2013- Aug
2014, $17,500.
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Award, Wilfrid Laurier University, June 2013
The Joan Heimbecker Award for highest graduating average in KPE, Wilfrid Laurier University, June 2013
Alumni Gold Medal, Wilfrid Laurier University, June 2013.
NSERC USRA, Wilfrid Laurier University, May-Aug 2013, $5,000.
Faculty of Science Students Association (FOSSA) Undergraduate Thesis Grant, Wilfrid Laurier University, January
2013
NSERC USRA, Wilfrid Laurier University, May-Aug 2012, $6,000
NSERC USRA, Wilfrid Laurier University, May-Aug 2011, $6,000
Domtar Excellence in Education Scholarship, Wilfrid Laurier University, Sept 2009- Apr 2013,
$8,000
President's Centennial Scholarship, Wilfrid Laurier University, Sept 2009-Apr 2013, $20,000.

Heres what Brianna went on to do:

I am currently a Masters student in Exercise Physiology at The University of Western Ontario under the supervision of
Dr. Charles Rice. My Masters thesis involves looking at changes in motor unit firing rate in the anconeus muscle as a
function of elbow extensor maximal-velocity fatigue. I plan to continue in academia and pursue a PhD in a related field.

Ryan Foley BSc (WLU)

Heres what Ryan did as an XNL Lab member from 2011 to 2014.
Theses completed:
Estimates of persistent inward current in human motor neurons during postural
sway (MSc Thesis). Training induced adaptation in interhemispheric inhibition
(Honours BSc thesis).
XNL Research Presentations:
Estimates of persistent inward current in human motor neurons during postural
sway(poster presentation at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience meeting in
Washington, DC).
Estimates of persistent inward current in human motor neurons during postural
sway(oral presentation at the 2014 Ontario Exercise Physiology meeting in Barrie,
ON).

Training induced adaptation in interhemispheric inhibition (poster presentation at the 2013 American College
of Sports Medicine meeting in Indiannapolis, IN).
Training induced adaptation in interhemispheric inhibition (oral presentation at the 2013 Exercise
Neuroscience Group meeting in Oshawa, ON).
Training induced adaptation in interhemispheric inhibition (poster presentation at the 2013 Muscle Health
Awareness Day meeting in Toronto, ON).
Awards and Scholarships: MHAD4 Poster Presentation Finalist (2013), Graduate Entrance Scholarship (2013),
FOSSA Research Grant (March 2012), Deans List (2012).
Current Position and aspirations: Currently, I work as the Kinesiology Lab technician at the University of
Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). I am responsible for the maintenance and repair of lab equipment,
skills that I learned through graduate coursework and conducting experiments as a graduate and
undergraduate student in XNL. I am also involved in research at UOIT, helping graduate students and faculty
members with material design solutions to answer hypotheses.

Peter Laidlaw BSc (WLU)

Heres what Peter did as an XNL Lab member from 2012 to 2014.
Theses completed:
Fatigue-induced changes to estimates of persistent inward current in human
spinal motor neurons (Honours BSc Thesis).
XNL Research Presentations:

Fatigue-induced changes to estimates of persistent inward current in human

spinal motor neurons (presented by coinvestigator, Kirby Mendes, at the
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology in St. Johns NFLD in October 2014)
Heres what Peter went on to do: Currently enjoying a year off to add to my
volunteer and work experience. Aspiring to become a physician specializing in
neurology and/or movement related disorders. I would love to work in a hospital
or rehabilitation facility where I can focus my efforts on restoring health to those
in need in a one-on-one setting.

Kirby Mendes

Heres what Kirby has done as an XNL Lab member from Sept. 2013 to now
Proposed MSc thesis (in progress):

proposed thesis project, Adderall and its effects on neuromuscular function

XNL Research Presentations:

Estimates of Persistent Inward Current in human soleus motor units decline during
fatigue (poster presentation at the 2014 Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
meeting in St. Johns, NL)
Awards and Scholarships:
FGPS Graduate Travel Assistantship Award

Current Position and aspirations:

Kirby is currently a 2nd year MSc student in the XNL lab. In the future, he would like to
be employed in a research or a teaching facility.

Kaley Powers MSc (WLU)

Heres what Kaley did as an XNL Lab member from 2011 to 2013:
Theses completed:
Acute cortical changes and stability following a concussion (MSc thesis)
XNL Research Presentations:
Acute cortical changes following a sport-induced concussion (poster presentation,
2013 Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego, CA)
Cortical mechanisms of fatigue and stability following a concussion (poster
presentation, 2013 American College of Sports Medicine meeting, Indianapolis, IN)
Cortical mechanisms of fatigue and stability following a concussion (poster
presentation, 2013 Muscle Health Awareness Day at York University)
Recovery of static stability following a concussion (oral presentation at the Ontario Biomechanics Conference in
Barrie, ON)
Neural mechanisms of fatigue following a concussion (oral presentation at the 2012 Ontario Exercise Physiology
Conference)
XNL Publications:
Powers, K.C., Cinelli, M.E., Kalmar, J.M. (2014). Cortical hypoexcitability persist beyond the symptomatic phase of a
concussion, Brain Injury
Powers, K.C., Kalmar, J.M., & Cinelli, M.E. (2014). Dynamic stability and steering control following a sport-induced
concussion, Gait & Posture
Powers, K.C., Kalmar, J.M., & Cinelli, M.E. (2014). Recovery of static stability following a concussion, Gait & Posture
Awards and Scholarships:
- Gold Medal award nominee (2013)
- GSA Travel Award (2013)
- Graduate Scholarship (2011-2013)

Heres what Kaley went on to do:

Currently, I am at McMaster University pursuing an MSc in Physiotherapy. After completing my MSc at Laurier, I wanted
to be able to apply my research and interests of concussions in a clinical setting. As such, I am aspiring to practice as a
physiotherapist working in neurological rehabilitation.

Simon A. Sharples MSC (WLU), PhD Candidate (U. Calgary)

Heres what Simon did as an XNL Lab member from 2009 to 2012

Theses completed:
Cortical mechanisms of unimanual control (MSc Thesis).
The role of the supplementary motor area in Interhemispheric and intracortical inhibitory
pathways within the human motor cortex (BSc.Thesis)
XNL Research Presentations:
Cortical mechanisms of mirror activation in Parkinsons disease. (Poster presentation,
2013 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, Toronto, ON)
Cortical mechanisms of supraspinal fatigue and sense of effort. (Poster presentation, 2012
Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)
Mechanisms of upstream failure contributing to increased sense of effort with fatigue.
(Slide presentation, 2012 Alberta Motor Control Meeting, Kananaskis, AB).
Cortical contributions to altered sense of effort following fatigue. (Slide presentation, 2012 Southern Ontario Motor
Behaviour Symposium, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON)
Fatigue: Its in your head. (Slide presentation, 2012 Ontario Exercise Physiology Meeting, Barrie, ON)
Modulation of cortical excitability and inhibition prior to a voluntary unimanual contraction. (Poster presentation,
2011 Society for Neuroscience, Washington D.C.)

 Modulation of cortical excitability and interhemispheric inhibition prior to a planned voluntary unimanual contraction
(Slide presentation, 2011 Ontario Exercise Neuroscience Group Meeting, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON)
Modulation of cortical excitability and interhemispheric inhibition prior to a voluntary unimanual contraction (Poster
presentation, 2011 Muscle Health Awareness Day, York University, Toronto, ON)
The role of the supplementary motor area in interhemispheric and intracortical inhibition within the human motor
cortex. (Poster presentation, 2010 Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA)
The role of the supplementary motor area in mirror movements in Parkinsons disease. (Slide presentation, 2010
Ontario Exercise Physiology Meeting, Barrie, ON)
XNL Publications:
Sharples, S.A., Almeida, Q.J., and Kalmar, J.M. (2014). Cortical mechanisms of mirror activation during maximal and
submaximal finger contractions in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Parkinsons Disease.4, 437-452
Sharples, S.A. and Kalmar, J.M. (2012). Modulation of cortical excitability and interhemispheric inhibition prior to
rhythmic unimanual contractions. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 210 (2): pg. 178-186.
Sharples, S.A., Gould J.A., Vandenberk, M.S., and Kalmar, J.M. (2014). Cortical mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue
and sense of effort (In Preparation).
Awards and Scholarships:
Finalist for Northeastern Association for Graduate Schools Thesis Award, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2013
Nominee for Faculty of Science Gold Medal of Excellence, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University,
2012
Deans Scholarship, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2010- 2011
NSERC Industrial Partnership (IPS-1), Wilfrid Laurier University and Northern Digital Inc., 2010-2011
Graduate Entrance Scholarship (Masters), Faculty of Graduate Studies, , 2010
Science and Technology Endowment Program (STEP) undergraduate thesis research grant, Wilfrid Laurier
University, 2009
In-Course Scholarship (Deans List), Wilfrid Laurier University, 2009

Heres what Simon went on to do:

I received my BSc in kinesiology with minors in chemistry and biology in 2010 from Wilfrid Laurier University located in
Waterloo, Ontario. I continued at WLU to complete a MSc in kinesiology under the supervision of Dr. Jayne Kalmar
(2010-2012) where I worked to gain a better understanding on how changes in inhibitory circuits in the motor cortex
contribute to involuntary activation of muscles in the hands (mirror movements) in people with Parkinsons disease and
also in healthy people during neuromuscular fatigue.In the fall of 2012 I continued to pursue a PhD in neuroscience
under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Whelan in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. My work with
Dr. Whelan involves the examination of spinal circuits that generate walking behaviours. In particular, I am interested in
gaining a better understanding the influence that dopamine exerts on motor circuits in the spinal cord that produce
walking patterns of activity. To study this I make use of a variety of techniques including optogenetics, intracellular and
extracellular electrophysiology, calcium imaging, retrograde viral anatomical tracing and immunohistochemistry.
I have a strong interest in translational neurobiology fostered over my tenure at Wilfrid Laurier University and
continuing at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. It is my goal to develop a research program with a focus on understanding
the basic mechanisms mediating interactions between descending motor pathways from the brain with spinal neuronal
networks that produce voluntary movement. I have a cross-cutting blend of experiences working with human and
animal models that have exposed me to basic, clinical and industrial realms of biomedical sciences and technology. In
addition to research, I also have a strong interest in teaching. It is my goal to develop a research program of my own that
will be complimented by teaching motor systems physiology at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Publications from my doctoral studies at the University of Calgary in Dr. Whelans Lab
Sharples, S.A., Koblinger K, Humphreys J.M. and Whelan P.J. (2014). Dopamine: a parallel pathway for the modulation of
spinal locomotor networks. Frontiers in Neural Circuits 8 (55)
Sharples, S.A., Humphreys, J.M., Jensen, A.M., Dhoopar, S., Delaloye, N., Clemens, S., and Whelan, P.J. (2014).
Dopaminergic modulation of locomotor network activity in the neonatal mouse spinal cord. Submitted to Journal of
Neurophysiology (Under Review).