Lori Ann Vallis

Purposeful action requires the central nervous system to integrate, into ongoing movement patterns, available sensory information about body position in space. Vision is a unique sensory input as it provides this information in advance, for route-planning, and the adjustment of on-going stepping strategies. My research program has focused on strategies used to execute safe movement during adapted locomotor tasks (steering, obstacle circumvention, obstacle stepping) and the role of vision in these tasks. 

I am also interested in exploring the impact of cognitive or brain function on locomotor control. Recent research indicates that performing more than one task at a time influences our walking performance. Given the commonness of dual tasking in our daily living, I hope to map patterns of cognitive-locomotor interference for multiple adapted locomotor (e.g. obstacle circumvention) and cognitive activities (e.g. visuo-spatial cognitive tasks) and ascertain optimal training strategies for dual-task performance.

Recent Publications 

Life-time summary (count) according to the following categories:

• Papers in referred journals = 59
• Papers submitted to refereed journals = 3
• Book chapters = 1

1. Pitman J, Vallis LA. (2021). The role of cognition when executing an online, visually evoked adjustment to an obstacle circumvention strategy. In Press, Journal of Motor Behavior, Jun 1; 1-12; doi: 10.1080/00222895.2021.1932713. Epub ahead of print. [NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Vallis].
2. Alghamdi M, Vallis LA, Leat SJ. (2021). The association between visual attention and body movement-controlled video games, balance and mobility in Older Adults. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1): 405. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02358-9.
3. McIntosh EI, Vallis LA. (2021). Performance during reactive handrail grasping during forward walking by young and older adults with and without prior knowledge of the direction of movement is correlated with grip strength. Experimental Gerontology, Aug;151:111386. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111386. Epub 2021 May 3. PMID: 33957264. [NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Vallis].
4. Pitman J, Sutherland K, Vallis LA. (2021). Exploring the cognitive demands required to adjust online obstacle avoidance strategies. Experimental Brain Research, 239(3): 1009-1019. [NSERC Discovery Grant awarded to Vallis].
5. Althomali M, Vallis LA, Leat S. (2019) Can older adults’ balance and mobility improve with visual attention training in a randomized controlled study? Eur J App Physiol, 119 (7): 1-13.
6. Shulman DA, Spencer A, Vallis LA. (2019) Older adults exhibit variable responses in stepping behaviour following unexpected forward perturbations during gait initiation. Human Movement Science. 64: 120-128. [NSERC Discovery Grant]
7. Shulman DA, Spencer A, Vallis LA. (2018) Age related alterations in reactive stepping following unexpected mediolateral perturbations during gait initiation. Gait Posture 64: 130-134. [NSERC Discovery Grant]
8. Inkol K, Huntley AH, Vallis LA. (2018) Repeated exposure to forward support-surface perturbation during overgound walking alters upper-body kinematics and step parameters. J Mot Behav. 51(3): 318-330. [NSERC Discovery Grant]
9. Worden TA, Vallis LA (2018). Examining transfer effects of dual-task training protocols for a complex locomotor task. J Mot Behav. 50(2): 177-193 [NSERC Discovery Grant]
10. Huntley AH, Zettel JL, Vallis LA (2017). Older adults exhibit altered motor coordination during an upper limb pbject transport task requiring a lateral change in support. Hum Mov Sci. 52: 133-142 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
11. Worden TA, Mendes M, Singh P, Vallis LA (2016). Measuring the effects of a visual or auditory Stroop task on dual-task costs during obstacle crossing. Gait Posture. 50: 159-163 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
12. McIntosh EI, Zettel JL, Vallis LA (2017). Stepping responses in young and older adults following a perturbation to the support surface during gait. J Motor Behav. 49(3): 288-298 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
13. Huntley AH, Zettel JL, Vallis LA (2016). Effect of aging on dynamic postural stability and variability during a multi-directional lean and reach object transportation task. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 66: 154-60 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
14. Huntley AH, Zettel JL, Vallis LA (2016). Simultaneous Turn and Step Task for investigating control strategies in healthy young and community dwelling older adults. Motor Control. 19: 1-31 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
15. Worden TA, Beaudette SM, Brown SH, Vallis LA (2016). Estimating gait stability: Asymmetrical loading effects measured using margin of stability and local dynamic stability. J Motor Behav. 48(5): 455-67 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
16. Worden TA, De Jong AF, Vallis LA (2016). Do characteristics of a stationary obstacle lead to adjustments in obstacle stepping strategies? Gait Posture. 43: 38-41 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
17. Worden TA, Vallis LA (2016). Stability control during the performance of a simultaneous obstacle avoidance and auditory Stroop task. Exp Brain Res. 234 (2): 387-96 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
18. Hinton DC, Vallis LA (2016). Children age 7 complete complex gait and postural tasks differently than adults under dual-task conditions. J Mot Behav. 48 (3): 193-204 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
19. Campbell TM, Vallis LA (2014). Predicting fat-free mass index and sarcopenia in assisted living older adults. Age (Dordr). 36 (4): 9674 [Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation].
20. Worden TA, Vallis LA (2014). Concurrent performance of a cognitive and dynamic obstacle avoidance task: Influence of dual-task training. J Motor Behav. 46(5): 357-68 [NSERC Discovery Grant].
21. McIntosh EI, Smale KB, Vallis LA (2013). Predicting Fat-Free Mass Index and Sarcopenia: A pilot study in Community Dwelling Older Adults. AGE (Dordr: J American Aging Association). 35(6):2423-2434 [Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation].
22. Logan S, McIntosh EI, Vallis LA, Spriet LL (2013). Nutrient and dietary supplement intake and measures of lean mass, fat free mass index and strength in community-dwelling adults 70 years and older with high socioeconomic status. Journal of Human Nutrition and Food Science. 1: 1006.
23. Hackney A, Vallis LA, Cinelli ME (2013). Action strategies of individuals during aperture crossing in non-confined space. Q J Exp Psychol (Colchester). 66 (6): 1104-12.
24. Krause KE, McIntosh EI, Vallis LA (2011). Sarcopenia and predictors of the fat free mass index in community-dwelling and assisted-living older men and women. Gait Posture. 35(2): 180-5. [Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation]
25. Paquette MR, Vallis LA (2010). Age related kinematic changes in late visual-cueing during obstacle circumvention. Exp Brain Res 203(3): 563-74. [U of G Faculty Research Assistance Award]
     

Honours & Awards

• 2017 | “Last Lecture” University of Guelph Nominee 
• 2011 | College of Biological Science Teaching Award of Excellence - University of Guelph
• 2008 | Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising Medallion Nominee  - Council on Undergraduate Academic Advising (CUAA), University of Guelph