Dr Paul Ansdell

My research focuses on diversity in physiology. Specifically, how age, sex, and hormonal status interact to determine physiological function in health and disease. I aim to detail the interaction between systems and quantify acute responses and chronic adaptation to interventions, such as exercise.

To perform this research, I combine techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, high-density electromyography, near-infrared spectroscopy, and pulmonary gas exchange to identify aetiologies of physiological alterations and adaptations.

• Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
• Anodal tDCS improves neuromuscular adaptations to short-term resistance training of the knee extensors in healthy individuals, Angius, L., Ansdell, P., Škarabot, J., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., Cowper, G., Santarnecchi, E., Kidgell, D., Howatson, G. 30 Oct 2024, In: Journal of Neurophysiology
• Changes in motor unit behaviour across repeated bouts of eccentric exercise, Hayman, O., Ansdell, P., Angius, L., Thomas, K., Horsbrough, L., Howatson, G., Kidgell, D., Škarabot, J., Goodall, S. 1 Nov 2024, In: Experimental Physiology
• Contraction intensity modulates spinal excitability during transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked silent period in rectus femoris muscle, Guerrero, G., Ansdell, P., Howatson, G., Avela, J., Walker, S. 1 May 2024, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology
• Female Brain and Endocrinological Research Veteran (FemBER-Vet) Study: A study protocol for identifying endocrinological, lifestyle and psychosocial determinants of brain health outcomes in female veterans for future intervention success, Watermeyer, T., Atkinson, E., Howatson, G., McGill, G., Dodds, C., Ansdell, P., Udeh-Momoh, C. 19 Aug 2024, In: PLoS One
• Motor unit discharge rate modulation during isometric contractions to failure is intensity‐ and modality‐dependent, Valenčič, T., Ansdell, P., Brownstein, C., Spillane, P., Holobar, A., Škarabot, J. 15 May 2024, In: The Journal of Physiology
• No sex differences in oxygen uptake or extraction kinetics in the moderate or heavy exercise intensity domains, Solleiro Pons, M., Bernert, L., Hume, E., Hughes, L., Williams, Z., Burnley, M., Ansdell, P. 1 Mar 2024, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
• Sex Differences in Neuromuscular Aging: The Role of Sex Hormones, Piasecki, J., Škarabot, J., Spillane, P., Piasecki, M., Ansdell, P. 1 Apr 2024, In: Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
• Supraspinal, spinal, and motor unit adjustments to fatiguing isometric contractions of the knee extensors at low and high submaximal intensities in males, Angius, L., Del Vecchio, A., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., Ansdell, P., Atkinson, E., Farina, D., Howatson, G. 14 Jun 2024, In: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
• The menstrual cycle and hormone-based contraception, McNulty, K., Ansdell, P., Hassan, A., Hicks, K. 3 Sep 2024, Women’s Football, New York, United States, Taylor & Francis
• The Symptoms Experienced by Naturally Menstruating Women and Oral Contraceptive Pill Users and Their Perceived Effects on Exercise Performance and Recovery Time Posttraining, McNulty, K., Ansdell, P., Goodall, S., Thomas, K., Elliott-Sale, K., Howatson, G., Hicks, K. 1 Jan 2024, In: Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal

Padraig Spillane Neurophysiology and plasticity across the female lifespan Start Date: 01/10/2022

I am an Early Career Research Theme Lead for Human, Environmental, and Exercise Physiology within the Physiological Society, and I have won the following awards:

2020 Inaugural Review Prize - The Physiological Society, Experimental Physiology

2018 Young Investigator Award - European College of Sports Science

2016 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence - University of Brighton