TECHNOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE

We work with emerging technologies like AI, XR, and eye tracking to understand and enhance performance.  Current projects include investigating the applications of 360-degree video, virtual reality, and simulation suite technology to create immersive testing and learning environments for performance sports. Through these studies, we aim to uncover both the scientific foundations and practical applications of XR as a tool for learning, assessment, and performance improvement. In our occupational performance work, we are aiming to understand employee perceptions of the use of AI in the workplace and how this influences performance and well-being and how we might integrate eye tracking in new ways to improve safety and performance in high-risk settings, such as spaceflight. 

We started this journey working with the KCL ADHD Lab on exercise in ADHD, and since then, it has expanded to a variety of projects focusing on neurodiversity in sport and exercise. In sport, we are working with industry partners to understand neurodiversity in high-performance settings as well as access to sport at grassroots levels. In exercise, we are investigating how virtual reality can be used to support ADHD symptom management by combining physical activity with cognitive training in immersive environments. This research explores the accessibility, feasibility, and potential benefits of VR as a tool for improving focus, self-regulation, and overall well-being. 

We research how vision and perception affect performance and decision-making across medicine, space, sport, and esports. Our studies examine how vision influences people's understanding of health information, how astronauts perform critical tasks in space, and how athletes with visual impairments are classified for fair competition.  Together, this research aims to improve accessibility, refine classification systems, and inform safety guidelines in high-performance environments

We are exploring how virtual reality can be used to make exercise more accessible, enjoyable, and effective. Our research investigates ways to manipulate exercise perceptions to reduce feelings of effort and support individuals with breathlessness or exercise intolerance, in collaboration with colleagues at the Centre of Human and Applied Physiology and the University of Oxford. We are also working with partners such as FitXR and the KCL Active Wellness Scheme to study how VR can encourage greater engagement in physical activity and promote mental health benefits. In addition, we examine how different virtual environments influence enjoyment, providing insights that could inform future exercise prescription and design.

Our research examines the complex relationship between sport, identity, and mental health. In one project, we are assessing the validity and feasibility of mental health screening tools for elite athletes in Romania, comparing results with international data to better understand the prevalence of common mental health challenges and the role of mental health literacy. In another, we are exploring how athletic identity shapes experiences of disordered eating among rock climbers, combining survey data with personal accounts to gain deeper insight into this issue. Together, these studies aim to advance evidence-based approaches to supporting athlete wellbeing across different sporting contexts.