Romeo Chua

		Office:	War Memorial Gym - Room 212
		Phone:	604-822-1624
		Fax:	604-822-6842
		Lab:	Perceptual-Motor Dynamics Laboratory
		Lab Ph:	604-822-1339
		EMail:	romeo.chua@ubc.ca
Professor

Background

B.Sc. (Kinesiology), Simon Fraser University, 1991; M.Sc. (Human Biodynamics), McMaster University, 1992; Ph.D. (Kinesiology), Simon Fraser University, 1995

Specialization

Human Perceptual-Motor Control, Vision and Action, Perceptual-Motor Compatibility, Coordination

Courses Taught

HKIN 230 (3) Human Motor Behaviour I

Processes underlying human movement and learning motor skills and factors influencing acquisition, performance and movement control. [3-0-0]

HKIN 330 (3) Human Motor Behaviour II

Acquisition, performance and control of skilled movements. Processes and underlying mechanisms involved in learning and performing motor skills. [2-2]

HKIN 568 (3) Human Motor Control

Graduate seminar focusing on reports and discussions of current research literature concerning theories and findings in human perceptual-motor control.

Research

The general theme of my research program is the study of perceptual and sensory contributions to the preparation and execution of goal-directed movement. The areas of investigation include: 

(a) vision and action – investigation of the interaction between parallel visual pathways for visual perception and action, and the utilization of vision during goal-directed action

(b) movement preparation – electrophysiological investigations of the preparation of goal-directed action and of response selection processes

(c) perceptual-motor compatibility – investigation of the impact of stimulus-response organization on human information processing and performance

(d) perceptual-motor behaviour in Down syndrome – elaboration of a model of cerebral specialization and motor function in persons with Down syndrome that has, as its primary feature, the dissociation of the functional subsystems serving speech perception and the organization of complex movement

(e) coordination dynamics – the examination of cognitive, neuromuscular, and biomechanical constraints that influence the dynamics of movement coordination.

Publications

Selected Publications

Cressman, E.K., Franks, I.M., Enns, J.T., & Chua, R. (2006). No automatic pilot for visually guided aiming based on color. Experimental Brain Research, 171, 174-183.

Bernier, P.M., Chua, R.¸ & Franks, I.M. (2005). Is proprioception calibrated during visually guided movements? Experimental Brain Research, 167, 292-196.

Chua, R., & Enns, J.T. (2005). What the hand can’t tell the eye: Illusions of space constancy during accurate pointing. Experimental Brain Research, 162, 109-114.

Kennedy, P.M., Cressman, E.K., Carlsen, A.N., & Chua, R. (2005). Assessing vestibular contributions during changes in gait trajectory. Neuroreport, 16, 1097-1100.

Elliott, D., Helsen, W., & Chua, R. (2001). A Century Later: Woodworth’s (1899) Two-Component Model of Goal-Directed Aiming. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 342-357.

Fecteau, J.F., Chua, R., Franks, I.M., & Enns, J.T. (2001). Visual awareness and the on-line modification of action. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 55, 104-110.

Carlsen, A.N., Chua, R., Inglis, J.T., Sanderson, D.J., & Franks, I.M. (2004). Can prepared movements be stored subcortically?  Experimental Brain Research, 159, 301-309.

Carlsen, A.N., Chua, R., Inglis, J.T., Sanderson, D.J., & Franks, I.M. (2004). Prepared movements are elicited early by startle. Journal of Motor Behavior, 36, 253-264.

Carlsen, A.N., Chua, R., Inglis, J.T., Sanderson, D.J., & Franks, I.M. (2003). Startle Response is Dishabituated During a Reaction Time Task. Experimental Brain Research, 152, 510-518.

Carlsen, A.N., Hunt, M.A., Inglis, J.T., Sanderson, D.J., & Chua, R. (2003). Altered triggering of a prepared movement by a startling stimulus. Journal of Neurophysiology, 89, 1857-1863.

Chua, R., Weeks, D.J., & Goodman, D. (2003). Perceptual-motor interaction: Some implications for HCI. In J.A. Jacko & A. Sears (Eds.), The handbook of human-computer interaction (pp. 23-34). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum & Associates.

Chua, R., Weeks, D.J., Ricker, K.L., & Poon, P. (2001). Influence of operator orientation on relative organizational mapping and spatial compatibility. Ergonomics, 44, 751-765.

Ringenbach, S.D., Chua, R., Maraj, B.K.V., Kao, J.C., & Weeks, D.J. (2002). Bimanual coordination dynamics in adults with Down syndrome. Motor Control, 6, 388-407.

Weeks, D.J., Chua, R., Weinberg, H., Elliott, D., Cheyne, D. (2002). A preliminary study using magnetoencephalography to examine function in Down’s syndrome. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 42, 1-18.

Weeks, D.J., Chua, R., & Elliott, D. (Eds.). (2000). Perceptual-motor behavior in Down syndrome.  Champaign: IL: Human Kinetics.

Chua, R., Weeks, D.J., & Elliott, D. (1996). A functional systems approach to understanding verbal-motor integration in individuals with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome: Research and Practice, 4, 25-36.

Maslovat, D., Chua, R.¸ Lee, T.D., & Franks, I.M. (2006). Anchoring strategies for learning a bimanual coordination pattern. Journal of Motor Behavior, 38, 101-117.

Hodges, N.J., Chua, R., & Franks, I.M. (2003). The role of video in facilitating perception and action of a novel coordination movement. Journal of Motor Behavior, 35, 247-260.

Lee, T.D., Almeida, Q.J., & Chua, R. (2002). Spatial constraints on bimanual coordination: Effects of effector orientation. Experimental Brain Research, 146, 205-212.

Byblow, W.D., Chua, R., Bysouth-Young, D.F., & Summers, J.J. (1999). Stabilization of bimanual coordination through visual coupling. Human Movement Science, 18, 281-305.

Zehr, E.P., Collins, D.F., & Chua, R. (2001). Human interlimb reflexes evoked by electrical stimulation of cutaneous nerves innervating the hand and foot. Experimental Brain Research, 140, 495-504.

Zehr, E.P., & Chua, R. (2000). Phase modulation of human cutaneous reflexes during rhythmic cyclical arm movements. Experimental Brain Research, 135, 241-250.