The Laboratory of the Institute for Kinesiology Research supports the research activities of the institute and the professional work of the Mediterranean Health Centre and, since 2015, the accredited activity of the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence. The laboratory is located at Pristaniška 45, Koper, and includes a mobile unit covering field services.
The vision of the laboratory is to become the leading diagnostics laboratory for skeletal muscle and motor control in the field, providing both basic and applied research. We are laying the foundations of kinesiology and (neuro)ergonomics in society with the mission to study and promote a healthy lifestyle with expert-approved exercise, proper nutrition, and a suitable ergonomic environment.
In 2021, as part of the TwinBrain project (http://www.twinbrain.si/; Horizon 2020; No. 952401), we founded the SloMoBIL laboratory (Slovenian Mobile Brain/Body Imaging Laboratory). Our lab strives to overcome the limitations of traditional brain imaging techniques like fMRI, PET, and MEG, which restrict participants’ movements, and instead uses mobile EEG technology combined with peripheral nervous system measurements such as EMG and whole-body kinematics. A special line of our research combines these electrophysiological measurements, such as EEG and EMG, within extended reality (XR) techniques (VR, AR, MR).
In this way, we want to take up the concept of natural cognition and examine the brain in the context of real-world experiences and interactions. Our philosophy is to gain a holistic understanding of how the central nervous system controls a variety of movement forms (e.g. postural and/or gait control under simple and more demanding conditions). Using state-of-the-art technology and a multidisciplinary approach, SloMoBIL is nested within the field of Neuroscience of movement with a special interest in addressing aspects of neurodegenerative diseases and neurorehabilitation. It brings together experts from the fields of kinesiology, cognitive neuroscience, physiotherapy, and biomedical engineering, while closely collaborating with the medical staff.
Head of the laboratory: dr. Uroš Marušič, Senior Research Associate
Contact: dr. Uroš Marušič