Standing upright without falling is vital to the ability to perform many daily tasks. Dr Hill’ research programme is broadly focused on understanding interactions between emotional, cognitive, and sensory-motor systems underlying balance control, particularity in older age. With expertise in physiology, psychology and neuroscience, Dr Hill and his collaborators examine these processes from an interdisciplinary perspective, with both basic research and translational treatment studies.

His current research priorities can be broadly allocated to the following two themes;

     (1) Understanding ways in which we can “hack” our predictive brains by using various interventions (i.e., placebo effects, false feedback, reappraisal/reframing, priming, illusions) to modify our prior beliefs and expectations from a balance control perspective.

     (2) Exploring the interplay between interoception (the perception of the body’s internal state, such as breathing and heart rate) and emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses to postural threats across the lifespan.

Human neuroscience and movement techniques employed in the lab:

• Assessment of perceived and physiological effects of fear and anxiety
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Electropmyography (EMG)
• Forceplates to measure ground reaction forces
• 3D full-body motion analysis
• Unexpected sudden perturbations to threaten balance
• Exposure to heights to threaten balance safety

Dr. Matt Hill is an Assistant Professor based at the Research Centre for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences (PASES) at Coventry University. After receiving his PhD in Physiology at Coventry University in 2015, he joined the University of Northampton as Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, before commencing his current position at Coventry University in 2017. His research interests are broadly allocated to the areas of balance, falls and the neural control of posture and movement. His research mission is to help develop exercise training and an novel treatment strategies to improve age and disease-specific balance deficits and reduce the occurrence and impact of falls.