My profile

Biography

Professor Paul S Holmes PhD PFHEA CSci HCPC Registered Psychologist

Paul is the Faculty’s Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor and a Research Professor of Motor Cognition

He was previously Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange in Health, Psychology and Social Care. 
and Director for the Institute for Performance Research. He has led submissions to RAE and REF Units of Assessment in Allied Health Professions and Sport. 

His research interests include motor cognition in human performance and movement rehabilitation where he has published widely on both subjects focusing on motor imagery and action observation mechanisms. Current clinical projects include apps for Parkinson’s Disease patients, TMS and eye-gaze studies to optimise visuomotor interventions, and validating physiotherapy techniques in therapies for children with cerebral palsy. Paul is an associate editor for four journals and has worked as a sport psychologist in high performance sport for over 25 years.

Visiting and honorary positions

Adjunct Professor: Applied Cognitive Neuroscience; Institute of Sport, Exercise and
Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, AUS.

Editorial Board membership

Consulting Editor: Journal of Mental Imagery

Editorial Board: International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Music Performance Research,

ISRN Rehabilitation, European Journal of Sport Sciences (Psychology Section Editor) 2006-2011.

Membership of professional associations

Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Science Council: Chartered Scientist

Health and Care Professions Council: Practitioner Psychologist - Sport and Exercise Psychology

Impact

Secrets of the sporting elite

A technique that’s helped some of the world’s best athletes reach the pinnacle of elite sport is now changing the lives of individuals living with stroke and Parkinson's disease, and children with developmental coordination disorder.

Teaching

Subject areas

Sport and Exercise Psychology; Motor Cognition

Research outputs

Latest papers:

Wright, D.J., Scott, M.W., Smith, D.K., Holmes, P.S. (2022). Twenty years of PETTLEP imagery: an update and new direction for simulation-based training. Asian Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Scott, M.W., Wood, G., Holmes, P.S., Marshall, B., Williams, J., & Wright, D.J. (2021). Imagine that! Mental training for children with developmental coordination disorder. Core Concept, Front. Young Minds - Neuroscience and Psychology. DOI: 10.3389/frym.2021.642053

Recent Papers:

Scott, M.W. Wood, G., Holmes, P.S., Williams, J., Marshall, B., & Wright, D.J. (2021). Combined action observation and motor imagery: An intervention to combat the neural and behavioural deficits associated with developmental coordination disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 127, 628-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.015.

Bek, J., Holmes, P.S., Webb, J., Craig, C.E., Franklin, Z.C., Sullivan, M., Crawford, M., Vogt, S., Gowen, E., & Poliakoff, E. (2021). Action Imagery and Observation in Neurorehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease (ACTION-PD): development and pilot RCT of a user-informed home training intervention to improve everyday functional actions through observation and imagery. bioRxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.14.188375

Rea, R., Berlot, R., Martin, S.L., Craig, C.E., Holmes, P.S., Wright, D.J., Bon, J., Pirtošek, Z., & Ray, N.J., (2021). Quantitative EEG and cholinergic basal forebrain atrophy in Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.05.023

Craig, C.E., Jenkinson, N.J., Brittain, J-S., Grothe, M.J., Rochester, L., Silverdale, M., Alho, A.T.D.L., Alho, E.J.L., Holmes, P.S., & Ray, N.J., (2020). Pedunculopontine nucleus microstructure predicts postural and gait symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28051

Marshall, B., Wright, D., Holmes, P., Williams, J., & Wood, G. (2020). Combined action observation and motor imagery facilitates visuomotor adaptation in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/research-in-developmental-disabilities.