Breanna Studenka

Kinesiology and Health Science

Associate Professor


Breanna  Studenka

Contact Information

Office Hours: Mon 9:30-11:30 am
Office Location: HPER 157
Phone: 435-797-0109
Email: breanna.studenka@usu.edu
Additional Information:

Educational Background

PhD, Motor Control/Kinesiology, Purdue University, 2008
Error correction timing behavior in tapping and circle drawing
MS, Motor Control/Kinesiology, Purdue University, 2004
Effects of synchronization on tapping and circle drawing variability over a range of interval durations
BA, Biomechanics/Kinesiology, (Biology), University of Northern Colorado, 2001
Effects of biomechanical and anthropometric measures on collegiate female 800 meter run success

Biography

I am currently the director of the Sensory Motor Behavior Laboratory. My national organization is NASPSPA (the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity). I grew up in Arvada, Colorado, surrounded by teachers. My mother was an English teacher, my dad an Art and PE teacher, and my step mom a Special Education Teacher/Counselor/Public School Administrator. I could see the impact they had on the kids they taught and decided I wanted to be a teacher. Everyone thought I would grow up to be an elementary school teacher, but I loved learning so much, I just couldn’t leave academia. I completed my BA in Kinesiology at the University of Northern Colorado in 2001 where I also competed in Cross-Country and Track and Field. While at Northern Colorado I was able to complete an undergraduate thesis project on the effects of biomechanical and anthropometric measures on collegiate female 800 meter run success. Following this, I decided to keep learning about motor control (my favorite class from my undergraduate degree). I went to Purdue University with the goal of attaining a Masters degree, and I loved the academic environment so much (most of the time) that I continued on to get my Ph.D. After finishing my Ph.D. in 2008, I went on to do research at the University of Bielefeld (Bielefeld, Germany), McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario Canada), and Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pennsylvania)

Teaching Interests

Motor control, motor learning, dynamical systems, human movement variability

Research Interests

The general research of the Sensory Motor Behavior Laboratory concerns how we plan for and control movements that occur in sequence. We use kinematic analysis of table tapping and circle drawing as windows into the control of rhythmic movement. We are interested in understanding how far in advance movements are planned, and which constraints are used to determine which postures are adopted for sequential movements. Furthermore, the purpose of our research in motor variability is to determine changes that occur in the structure of movements due to different experimental and environmental manipulations. Additionally, we aim to determine if this structure changes with age, injury and/or disease

Awards

Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2016

College of Education and Human Services

Nominated for the NASPSPA Early Career Distinguished Scholar Award, 2014

North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity

NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) - Create: Training in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Fellowship , 2009

NSERC

NASPSPA (North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity) Outstanding Student Paper Award, 2008

NASPSPA

Carol J. Widule Outstanding Scholar Award: Purdue University Department of Health and Kinesiology, 2008

Purdue University

NASPSPA Graduate Student Award for International Travel (used to attend ACAPS, Paris, France), 2006

NASPSPA

Deans list (4.0 GPA): University of Northern Colorado, 2001

University of Northern Colorado

Outstanding Major of the Year Award (presented by American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance: AAHPERD), 2001

AAHPERD

Recognition for academic honors in athletics: University of Northern Colorado, 2001

University of Northern Colorado

Varsity letter-winner: University of Northern Colorado Cross Country and Track & Field teams, 2001

University of Northern Colorado

Recipient of Alumni MBNA Academic Scholarship: University of Northern Colorado, 1997

University of Northern Colorado


    Publications | Book Chapters

  • Newell, K.M, Studenka, B., Hu, X., (2015). Visual Information in the Coordination and Control of Isometric Force: The Cambridge Handbook of Applied Perception Research.
  • Huys, R., Jirsa, V., Studenka, B., Rheaume, N., Zelaznik, H., (2008). Human trajectory formation: Taxonomy of movement based on phase flow topology: Coordination: Neural, behavioral and social dynamics (Understanding complex systems). Berlin: Springer

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • Studenka, B., Raikes, A., (2019). Gender Differences in Non-linear Motor Performance Following Concussion. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 8:6, 540-547.
  • Studenka, B., Cummins, D., Pope, M., (2018). The Role of Multiple Internal Timekeepers and Sources of Feedback on Interval Timing: The Dependence of the Bimanual Advantage on Clocks.
  • Studenka, B., Gillam, S.L, Hartzheim, D., Gillam, R., (2017). Motor and verbal perspective taking in children with autism spectrum disorder: Changes in social interaction with people and tools. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 66
  • Cummins, D., Studenka, B., (2017). Preliminary evidence for inflexibility of motor planning in children with autism spectrum disorder.
  • Studenka, B., Dorsch, T., Fergusson, N., Olsen, C., Gordin, R.D, (2017). Nonlinear Assessment of Motor Variability During Practice and Competition for Individuals with Different Motivational Orientations.
  • Gillam, S.L, Harzheim, D., Studenka, B., Simonsmeier, V.L, Gillam, R., (2015). Narrative Intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58, 920-933. doi: 10.1044/2015_JSLHR-L-14-0295
  • Studenka, B., (2015). Response to period shifts in tapping and circle drawing: A window into event and emergent components of continuous movement. Psychological Research
  • Mazich, M.M, Studenka, B., Newell, K.M, (2015). Visual information about past, current and future properties of irregular target paths in isometric force tracking. tbd
  • Studenka, B., King, A.C, Newell, K.M, (2014). Differential time scales of change to learning frequency structures of isometric force tracking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance.
  • Coelho, C.J, Studenka, B., Rosenbaum, D.A, (2014). End-state comfort trumps handedness in object manipulation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance
  • Studenka, B., Eliasz, K.L, Shore, D.I, Balasubramaniam, R., (2014). Crossing the arms confuses the clocks: Sensory feedback and the bimanual advantage. Psychological Bulletin & Review
  • Rosenbaum, D.A, Chapman, K.M, Coelho, C.J, Gong, L.L, Studenka, B., (2013). Choosing actions. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 1-14.
  • Gonzalez, D.A, Glazebrook, C.M, Studenka, B., Lyons, J., (2013). Motor interactions with another person: do individuals with autism spectrum disorder plan ahead. , 7, 1-9.
  • Studenka, B., Newell, K.M, (2013). Visual information for prospective control of tracking irregular target paths with isometric force production. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1-11.
  • Studenka, B., (2008). Distinct timing mechanisms produce discrete and continuous movements. PLoS Computational Biology, 4, 1-8.

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Teaching

, Fall 2023
KIN 6300 - Seminar in Kinesiology, Fall 2023
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2023
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Spring 2023
, Fall 2022
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Fall 2022
KIN 6300 - Seminar in Kinesiology, Fall 2022
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2022
KIN 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Spring 2022
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Spring 2022
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Fall 2021
PSY 7090 - Neuroscience Colloquium, Fall 2021
KIN 6300 - Seminar in Kinesiology, Fall 2021
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2021
KIN 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Spring 2021
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Spring 2021
KIN 4400 - Measurement and Evaluation in Kinesiology (QI), Fall 2020
KIN 6300 - Seminar in Human Movement Sciences, Fall 2020
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Fall 2019
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2018
PEP 6300 - Seminar in Human Movement Sciences, Fall 2018
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2018
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2018
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2018
PEP 5910 - Independent Research, Spring 2018
SPED 7820 - Educational and Translational Neuroscience, Fall 2017
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2017
PEP 6300 - Seminar in Human Movement Sciences, Fall 2017
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2017
HONR 4900 - Honors Thesis/Capstone, Spring 2017
PEP 6860 - Motor Development, Spring 2017
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2016
PEP 6300 - Seminar in Human Movement Sciences, Fall 2016
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2016
PEP 7040 - Review of Literature, Summer 2016
PEP 7330 - Supervision Internship, Summer 2016
PEP 5910 - Independent Research, Spring 2016
SPED 7080 - Writing for Publication, Spring 2016
SPED 7090 - Conference Presentation, Fall 2015
pep 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2015
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2015
USU 1010 - University Connections, Fall 2015
usu 1010 - USU 1010: University Connections, Fall 2015
PEP 5910 - Independent Research, Spring 2015
SPED 7070 - SPED Grant Writing Internship, Spring 2015
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2014
PEP 7820 - Seminar: Special Topics, Spring 2014
PEP 6840 - Fundamentals of Motor Behavior, Fall 2013
PEP 6910 - Independent Research, Fall 2013
PEP 5910 - Independent Research, Summer 2013
PEP 5910 - Independent Research, Spring 2013
PEP 6540 - Neuromuscular Adaptations, Fall 2012

Graduate Students Mentored

Kian Wilcox, Kinesiology and Health Science, November 2023
Jesse Hansen, Kinesiology and Health Science, August 2023
Maia Garren, Kinesiology and Health Science, August 2022 - May 2023
Sonia DelBusso, Kinesiology and Health Science, January 2017 - May 2018
Katie DeLost, Kinesiology and Health Science, August 2015 - May 2017
Sushma Alphonsa, Kinesiology and Health Science, January 2014 - January 2016
Nicholas Lambertson, January 2014 - April 2015
Zach Phipps, January 2014 - April 2015
Josh Holliday, Kinesiology and Health Science, September 2012 - May 2013