Welcome!
Welcome!

Neuromotor behavior and exercise

Welcome to the Department of Neuromotor behavior and exercise at the University of Münster. On the following sites you will find information about the employee of the department, current research focus and to all questions concerning teaching and study. Please do not hesitate to contact us. (phone: +49(0)251-83 32460 /Secretary). The office is open from 08:00 to 13:00 a.m..

Follow this link to our consultation hours.

Since 2021 we moved to Wilhelm Schickard Straße 8 (see map at Index tab "team")

  • Latest Publications

    • , , , , , , & (). A cross-sectional study on the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness, inhibitory control, and event-related potentials moderated by severity of symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder.Preprint. Journal of Affective Disorders, 389 (15). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119701..
    • , , & (). One-year practice effects predict long-term cognitive outcomes in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. doi: 10.1177/1877718X251339585.
    • , , , , & (). Multitasking: Does task-switching add to the effect of dual-tasking on everyday-like driving behavior? Cognitive research: principles and implications, 10(1) (5). doi: 10.1186/s41235-025-00611-y.
    • , , , & (). Differences in network functional connectivity in response to sub-symptomatic exercise between elite adult athletes after sport-related concussion and healthy matched controls: a pilot study. Journal of Neurotrauma, 42 (5-6), 367278. doi: 10.1089/neu.2023.0629.
    • , , , , & (). Sex differences in cognitive performance persist into your 80s. GeroScience, online. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01585-x.
    • , , & (). Maximizing Female Performance: Uncovering the Power of Menstrual Cycles, Hormonal Contraception, and Training Optimization in Female Athletes. in Chandler, T. J., Chandler, W. B., & Bishop, C. (ed.), Conditioning for Strength and Human Performance (pp.449487). Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003366140 .
    • , , , , , , & (). Retinal vessel density and cognitive function in healthy older adults. Experimental Brain Research, 243, Article 114. doi: 10.1007/s00221-025-07076-x.
    • , , , , , , & (). Influence of cognitive and emotional factors on motor dual-task performance in nursing home residents. The mediating and moderating roles of cognition, concerns about falling, well-being, and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional observational study. Experimental Gerontology, 203. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2025.112726.
    • , , , , & (). A systematic review of observational practice for adaptation of reaching movements. NPJ science of learning, 9 (1), 117. doi: 10.1038/s41539-024-00271-5.
    • , , , , & (). Synchronization of Neurophysiological and Biomechanical Data in a Real-Time Virtual Gait Analysis System (GRAIL): A Proof-of-Principle Study. Sensors, 24 (12), Article 3779. doi: 10.3390/s24123779.
© NeuMoTrain

New publication in collaboration with the Münster University Hospital

Our current study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, provides important findings: A better fitness level correlates positively with cognitive control in patients with depression. The study conducted on 66 patients shows that this positive effect is independent of the severity of the depression. The results emphasize the potential of physical exercise to improve the cognitive health of people with depression.

© NeuMoTrain

Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS)

At the 30th Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Matthias Hendricks, PD Dr. Dieter Kutz and Prof. Dr. E. Eils presented their current research findings and received valuable feedback from the specialist community. Prof. Dr. E. Eils also chaired several events. The conference offered numerous opportunities for scientific exchange and networking with national and international experts in the field of international sports science.
 

© NMT

Neuromotor team runs

In sometimes difficult climatic conditions, the Neuromotor & Training department's running team put in a strong performance at this year's Leonardo Campus Run, and were rewarded with the obligatory isotonic cold drink afterwards.

© ChatGPT

Public job advertisement

The Institute of Sports Science in the Department of Neuromotor Skills and Training at the University of Münster is seeking to fill the position of Research Assistant (E 13 TV-L) in the third-party funded GRASB project as soon as possible, 01.10.2025. Subject to the approval of funds, a part-time position (65%) is offered for the duration of the project until 31.08.2027. You will find the detailed information here

© NeuMoTrain

BA/MA-Thesis

We are seeking motivated students with an interest in experimental research on multitasking. This bachelor’s/master’s thesis provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in psychological research using a driving simulator and classical laboratory settings to explore behavior.
If you’re curious about taking on this thesis project, feel free to get in touch with:
Piesie Akwasi Gyimah Asuako
 

© D.Kutz

Retinal vascular density related to executive function performance?

This study used structural equation modelling (SEM) to investigate whether retinal vascular density (VD) is related to individual executive function (EF) performance in healthy older adults, with haematocrit as a mediator. The results showed that there was no significant direct or indirect correlation between VD and EF, but there was a significant regression of haematocrit on EF performance. The authors concluded that changes in retinal VD are not a suitable parameter for predicting cognitive decline in healthy older adults, while higher haematocrit levels appear to have a positive effect on EF.
In: Experimental Brain Research

© IfS

Girls' Day 2025

As part of Girls' Day 2025, we welcomed 12 curious and motivated young participants to explore the world of sports science at the University of Münster. Throughout the day, through a combination of presentations, hands-on activities and live demonstrations the participants gained valuable insights into the various research groups - movement science, sport psychology and neuromotor behavior and exercise, studying human movement. They also received a tour of our sports facilities and together we ate lunch at the university cafeteria. It was a great day full of discovery, inspiration, and new perspectives!

© NeuMoTrain

Team days 2025

This year's retreat of the Neuromotor & Training department at the Landhaus Rothenberge focused on two topics. On the one hand, “Artificial intelligence and its use in everyday university life” and on the other, “open science” and “linear models”. As always, there was also plenty of time for interesting discussions and numerous team-building highlights.