Natalie Richer, PhD.

Natalie Richer Phone: 204-998-7637
Office: 3D22
Building: Duckworth
Email: n.richer@uwinnipeg.ca

Courses:

KIN-2207 Physical Growth and Motor Development
KIN-3209 Motor Learning & Development

Academic training:

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida
PhD, Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa
MSc, Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa
BSc, Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa

Research Interests:

Natalie’s research focuses on postural control and balance in healthy aging. As we age, sensory and motor changes cause inevitable decline in balance and an increased rate of falls. These falls lead to injuries, loss of independence, and sometimes death. Natalie’s objective is to find a way to reduce the occurrence of falls. With the help of high-density electroencephalography, she examines how the brain is involved in standing and walking. By understanding how brain activity changes with healthy aging, she hopes to suggest ways to train balance in older adults to reduce this decline in balance and improve quality of life.

Selected Publications:

See ResearchGate for a complete list of publications.

Richer, N., Downey, R.J., Hairston, W.D., Ferris, D.P., & Nordin, A.D. (2020). Motion and muscle artifact removal validation using an electrical head phantom, robotic motion platform, and dual layer mobile EEG. Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2020.3000971.

Richer, N. & Lajoie, Y. (2020). Automaticity of postural control while dual-tasking revealed in young and older adults. Experimental Aging Research, 46(1), 1-21, DOI: 10.1080/0361073X.2019.1693044

Richer, N., Ly, K., Fortier, N., & Lajoie, Y. (2020). Absence of ankle stiffening while standing in focus and cognitive task conditions in older adults. Journal of Motor Behavior, 52(2), 167-174, DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2019.1599808

Richer, N., Bisson, E.J., Bilodeau, M., Paquet, N., & Lajoie, Y. (2020). Effect of bilateral and unilateral plantarflexor muscle fatigue on blind navigation precision and gait parameters. Journal of Motor Behavior, 52(1), 41-49, DOI: 1080/00222895.2019.1576157

Richer, N., Polskaia, N., Raymond, B., Desjardins, B., & Lajoie, Y. (2019). Reaction time of healthy older adults is reduced while walking fast. Journal of Motor Behavior, 51(6), 600-602. DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2018.1538097

Richer, N., Saunders, D., Polskaia, N. & Lajoie, Y. (2017). The effects of attentional focus and cognitive tasks on postural sway: stiffening or automaticity? Gait & Posture, 54, 45-49. DOI:1016/j.gaitpost.2017.02.022

Richer, N., Polskaia, N. & Lajoie, Y. (2017). Continuous cognitive task promotes greater postural stability than an internal or external focus of attention in older adults. Experimental Aging Research, 43 (1), 21-33. DOI: 10.1080/0361073X.2017.1258214

Lajoie, Y., Richer, N., Jehu, D.A. & Tran, Y. (2016). Continuous cognitive tasks improve postural control compared to discrete cognitive tasks. Journal of Motor Behavior. 48 (3), 264-269. DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2015.1089833

Polskaia, N., Richer, N., Dionne, E. & Lajoie, Y. (2015). Continuous cognitive task promotes greater postural stability than an internal or external focus of attention. Gait & Posture, 41 (2), 454-458. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.11.009

Richer, N., Lajoie, Y. & Paquet, N. (2014) Impact of age and obstacles on navigation precision and reaction time during blind navigation in dual-task conditions. Gait & Posture, 39 (3), 835-840. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.09.019