Overview
Hans-Peter Kubis studied Biological Sciences with focus in Physiology at University Goettingen, Germany. He then went to Medical School Hanover, Germany and earned his doctoral degree in Biochemistry at University Hanover, followed by his habilitation in Physiology at Medical School Hanover. He worked many years investigating the regulation and development of skeletal muscle fibre types using artificial muscles in culture and animal systems. After coming to Bangor, he now works on causes and mechanisms of obesity on physiological and psychological levels, as well as on the prevention and treatment. This includes the development of weight loss strategies, techniques for investigating perceptual responses to food, analysing the interaction of nutrients and metabolism on whole body and cellular levels. Moreover, he investigates the pathophysiology of chronic diseases connected with obesity like obstructive sleep apnoea and diabetes type II. A further main interest is the investigation of mechanisms of adaptations to exercise on psychological, physiological and cellular levels. In particular, interactions of exercise stimuli and nutrients influencing skeletal muscle and whole body metabolism and weight regulation are investigated with various techniques. A broad spectrum of physiological, cellular-biochemical, as well as psychological techniques are used for the investigations. He is director of the Physical Activity and Wellbeing group (PAWB group).
Qualifications
- Habilitation in Physiology - Medical School Hanover, Germany
2004 - DSci: Dr rer nat Biochemistry - University of Hannover, Germany
1997 - Professional: Dipl. Biol. Sci. (University Goettingen, Germany)
University of Göttingen, 1991
Teaching and Supervision
I am module leader for Human Physiology and Biochemisty of Exercise modules. However, I am teaching on several other modules as well.
Research Interests
In continuation of my recent work on obesity (see publications on Research Gate) in connection with metabolism, appetite regulation and involvement of specific nutrients (i.e. sugar), we currently investigating the contribution of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance for appetite and craving. The ANS is the complex nervous system which is regulating bodily functions without involvement of conscious direction. Involvement and importance of the ANS balance for eating behaviour regulation is largely unknown, while the functional involvement of the parasympathetic nervous system, one major branch of the ANS, in appetite regulation is well described. ANS balance is strongly variable depending, as example, on cardiovascular fitness levels and BMI. In former work, we could show that negative energy balance of exercise is fully compensated in obese and lean females (Jackson et al. 2018), revealing that regulation of energy balance related to exercise is intact in both groups. However, our work in relation to perceptual measures of ‘wanting’ and ‘liking’ of food supports a food reward deficiency in obese people (Alabduljader et al. 2018). There are apparent discrepancies between energy balance challenges and how responses to food cues and rewards are integrated into eating behaviour. In a more lay-language explanation of this project, we will investigate why cardiovascular fit people are mostly lean and unfit people mostly overweight/obese. Indeed, the amount of calories burned by exercise is compensated in later food intake by most people; therefore, do not simply explain the difference.
In this project, with multidisciplinary collaboration under my leadership, with physiologist Dr Jonathan Moore (PAWB group, SSHES) and psychologists Dr Stephanie Baines (Psychology) and Prof. Robert Rogers (Psychology), with the PhD researcher Abdelbare Algamode (PAWB group, SSHES), we are investigating how the activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system contribute to the awareness and response to food cues in sedentary overweight/obese and highly trained lean individuals. In this work, we combine exercise and food cue trials, as well as direct stimulation of parasympathetic nervous system to understand mechanisms of appetite and craving in relation to the ANS balance. Unique technology and design of this work is expected to unravel some of the major mechanism in appetite regulation in connection with obesity and the work will contribute strongly to the field.
A further major current research project led by myself, in a longstanding collaboration with the Pulmonary Department, Ysbyty Gwynedd, including Dr Julian Owen (PAWB group, SSHES), Dr Jonathan Moore (PAWB group, SSHES), PhD researcher Claire Griffith-McGeever (PAWB group, SSHES), Dr Christopher Earing (Ysbyty Gwynedd), Consultant Dr Damian McKeon (Ysbyty Gwynedd), concerns the understanding of the causes and potential treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). OSA is a sleep disorder highly associated with obesity and has a very high cardiovascular disease risk; it leads to many problems for daily life, like severe sleepiness and fatigue, depressions etc.. OSA is very frequent in obese population, while affecting up to 6% of the adult population. In recent years, we investigated the influence of obesity related factors (inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors - collaboration with Medical School Hanover, Department of Pharmacology) for alterations of chemosensitivity in OSA patients (Earing et al. 2019). Currently, we are investigating changes in muscular effort perception (respiratory and motoric system) in OSA patients compared with ‘healthy’ individuals. Muscle systems are differentially affected in OSA (fatigue and hyper-reactivity) and contribute substantially to the severity of symptoms in OSA. With our newly collected data, we hope to explain central and peripheral alterations in the motoric system of OSA patients and their contribution to OSA symptoms. Additionally, we collect data in ‘healthy’ participants to develop a model, which can describe and predict alterations in effort sensation and the involvement of learning processes. The mechanisms of effort sensation are still highly controversial and we expect that our model will contribute hugely to the understanding of mechanisms involved in effort sensation in health and disease (manuscript in preparation). A further project in this collaboration under my leadership is related to treatment of OSA; we currently investigating the feasibility of a remote weight-loss intervention for OSA patients for alleviating OSA symptoms via weight loss, with the support of current MRes student Rachel Granger. The intervention (Programme for Enhanced Eating Behaviour – PEEB) was formerly developed in collaboration with former PhD researcher Mishal Alshubrami and MRes student Matthew Jones (PAWB group, SSHES) (Alshubrami et al. 2017). We expect that the PEEB intervention can lead to substantial weight loss in OSA patients and will be acceptable to be implemented in the treatment scheme in the Pulmonary Department of Ysbyty Gwynedd and others in the future. This work is expected to lead to high impact and grant capture for future patients’ benefits.
Concurrently, a further important research project is now starting to investigate fatigue and effort perceptions in patients with chronic fatigue symptoms. This project is a development based on my former projects with OSA patients but now focusing on further patient groups with major fatigue symptoms. Chronic fatigue is often a major symptom in particular patients groups (RA, OSA, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Cancer, etc.) and there is very little treatment available, as well as the understanding of the mechanisms involved is lacking. Based on our effort perception data with OSA and healthy patients, we hypothesize that learning processes play an important role for fatigue symptoms, if physiological reasons are not apparent, like in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with controlled inflammation. We will use our effort perception testing paradigm (manuscript in preparation), developed for OSA patients, to investigate effort and fatigue perception and prediction, moreover, we will adopt our recently established evaluative conditioning protocol (see below) in connection with exercise for influencing effort and fatigue perception in RA patients with major fatigue symptoms. Patients will take part in exercise training programmes, known to alleviate fatigue symptoms, but will be additionally conditioned with associated rewarding stimuli (sweet solutions) during increased physiological loading. A bespoke computer software has been developed by us using heart rate data in connection with a dual syringe system to deliver sweet rewards to participants’ oral cavity depending on the level of heart rate. The project will be performed in multidisciplinary collaboration with Dr Stephanie Baines (Psychology), Dr Jeremy Jones (Peter Maddison Centre, Ysbyty Gwynedd), together with a new PhD researcher (Saleh Elmsmari, PAWB group, SSHES) under my lead. This project aims to influence effort and fatigue perception, to gain better understanding of the mechanisms in chronic fatigue and to treat chronic fatigue.
A further research project under my lead is investigating the perception of exercise in various population groups. Physical activity is commonly very low in industrialized societies with severe negative outcomes for health risks. However, whether exercise is perceived as a reward and whether valuation of exercise can be influenced has not been established. In multidisciplinary collaboration with Prof Robert Rogers (Psychology) and with PhD researcher Tamam Albelwi (PAWB group, SSHES), we use discounting paradigms to measure reward decays of money, exercise and food to understand exercise valuation and factors influencing choices for the health behaviour exercise (motivation, context etc.) (Albelwi et al. 2019). The current project includes also online surveys, where exercise discounting and the involved motives for exercise are investigated in various population groups. Furthermore, we developed a new conditioning paradigm to use sweet rewards, which are linked with the appearance of cardiovascular strain (heart rate) during exercise training, for performing evaluative conditioning. This project aims to influence peoples’ choices towards higher intensities in exercise and to understand choice processes involved in exercise behaviour. Sedentary population tend to choose exercise intensities below the threshold needed for physiological adaptation. Influencing choice behaviour towards higher intensities would increase health benefits of self-selected physical activity for this population group. Currently, additional data are collected to investigate whether the conditioning effects also transfer to performance trials in athletic population. Based on the substantial effects of the conditioning we observed in this project, we also implement the protocol in a research project focusing on effort and fatigue processes (see above).
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
Potential PhD students can contact me regarding following topics:
1. Influence of exercise and physical activity on appetite regulation.
2. Fatigue and effort perception in health and disease.
3. Exercise perception and its valuation in various clinical and healthy populations.
4. Obesity and its consequences for physiological and psychological responses to exercise and food intake.
Publications
2024
- Published
Yagiz, G., Fredianto, M., Ulfa, M., Aiani, I., Shida, N., Moore, E. W. G. & Kubis, H.-P., 26 Feb 2024, In: PLoS ONE. 19, 2, p. e0298146 19 p., e0298146.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H.-P., Sartor, F. & Al-Otaibi, H., Jul 2024, In: Journal of Exercise Science and Fitness. 22, 3, p. 179-186 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2023
- Published
Griffith-McGeever, C. L., Owen, J., Earing, C., McKeon, D. & Kubis, H.-P., Jun 2023, In: Psychological Reports. 11, 11, 18 p., e15732.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Alenezi, M., Hayes, A., Lawrence, G. & Kubis, H.-P., 7 Sept 2023, In: Frontiers in Physiolology. Section: Exercise Physiology. 14, 16 p., 1188658.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Yagiz, G., Shida, N., Kuruma, H., Furuta, M., Morimoto, K., Yamada, M., Uchiyama, T., Kubis, H.-P. & Owen, J., Sept 2023, In: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 18, 9, p. 1030-1037
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Granger, R. & Kubis, H.-P., 27 Apr 2023, In: PLoS ONE. 18, 4, p. e0277856 18 p., 0277856.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Almutawtah, M. E. A. A. H., Campbell, E., Kubis, H.-P. & Erjavec, M., 10 Nov 2023, In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 23, 1, 19 p., 782.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2022
- Published
Yagiz, G., Williams, K., Owen, J. & Kubis, H.-P., 9 Dec 2022, In: PLoS ONE. 17, 12, p. e0278222 22 p., e0278222.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Yagiz, G., Akaras, E., Kubis, H.-P. & Owen, J. A., 2 Feb 2022, In: Applied Sciences. 12, 3, 21 p., 1593.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Granger, R. & Kubis, H.-P., 8 Nov 2022, (MedRxiv).
Research output: Working paper › Preprint
2021
- Published
Kubis, H.-P., Albelwi, T. & Rogers, R., 6 Oct 2021, In: PLoS ONE. 16, 10, 25 p., e0257953.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Yagiz, G., Akaras, E., Kubis, H.-P. & Owen, J. A., 9 Nov 2021, In: PLoS ONE. 16, 11, 23 p., e0259821.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Sartor, F., Moore, J. & Kubis, H.-P., 12 Feb 2021, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18, 4, 1800.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2019
- Published
Earing, C., Owen, J., Griffith-Mcgeever, C., McKeon, D., Engeli, S., Moore, J. & Kubis, H.-P., Aug 2019, In: Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology. 266, p. 73-81
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Albelwi, T., Rogers, R. & Kubis, H.-P., 1 Feb 2019, In: Physiology and Behavior. 199, p. 333-342
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Papini, G., Carder, C., Lightfoot, C. J., Kubis, H.-P. & Bonomi, A. G., Nov 2019, In: Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 59, 11, p. 1820-7
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Jones, T., Dunn, E., Macdonald, J., Kubis, H.-P., McMahon, N. & Sandoo, A., 2 Aug 2019, In: Nutrients. 11, 8, p. 1792
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2018
- Published
Owen, J., Earing, C., Griffith-Mcgeever, C., McKeon, D., Engeli, S., Moore, J. & Kubis, H.-P., Sept 2018.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review - Published
Alabduljader, K., Cliffe, M., Sartor, F., Papini, G., Cox, W. M. & Kubis, H.-P., Aug 2018, In: Eating Behaviors. 30, August, p. 35-41
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Jackson, M., Fatahi, F., Alabduljader, K., Jelleyman, C., Moore, J. & Kubis, H.-P., Apr 2018, In: Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 43, 4, p. 363-370
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2017
- Published
Noyes, J., Spencer, L. H., Bray, N., Kubis, H.-P., Hastings, R. P., Jackson, M. & O'Brien, T. D., May 2017, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 73, 5, p. 1111-1123 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Alshubrami, M., Alrajhi, S., Cox, W. M. & Kubis, H.-P., 2017, In: Saudi Journal of Obesity. 5, 2, p. 77-84
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2016
- Published
Sartor, F., Bonato, M., Papini, G., Bosio, A., Mohammed, R. A., Bonomi, A. G., Moore, J., Merati, G., La Torre, A. & Kubis, H.-P., 13 Dec 2016, In: PLoS ONE. 11, 12, e0168154.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Kubis, H. P., Scheibe, R. J., Decker, B., Hufendiek, K., Hanke, N., Gros, G. & Meissner, J. D., 20 Jan 2016, In: Cell Biology International.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
O'Brien, T. D., Noyes, J., Spencer, L. H., Kubis, H.-P., Hastings, R. P. & Whitaker, R., 15 Nov 2016, In: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2, 1, e000109.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2015
- Published
Kubis, H., Pernick, Y., Zyssman, I., Kubis, H. P., Moore, J. P. & Vered, Z., 1 Aug 2015, In: European Heart Journal. 36, 1, p. 633
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2014
- Published
O'Brien, T. D., Noyes, J., Spencer, L. H., Kubis, H., Hastings, R. P., Edwards, R. T., Bray, N. & Whitaker, R., 18 May 2014, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 70, 12, p. 2942-2951
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Earing, C. M., McKeon, D. J. & Kubis, H. P., 20 Feb 2014, In: Respiratory Medicine. 108, 5, p. 758-765
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
OBrien, T. D., Kubis, H., Bray, N. J., O'Brien, T. D., Noyes, J., Spencer, L. H., Kubis, H. P., Edwards, R. T., Bray, N. & Whitaker, R., 24 Jul 2014, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 71, 2, p. 430-440
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2013
- Published
Kubis, H., Sartor, F., Jackson, M. J., Squillace, C., Shepherd, A., Moore, J. P., Ayer, D. E. & Kubis, H. P., 1 Apr 2013, In: European Journal of Nutrition. 52, 3, p. 937-948
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Sartor, F., Vernillo, G., De Morree, H. M., Bonomi, A. G., La Torre, A., Kubis, H. P. & Veicsteinas, A., 13 Jul 2013, In: Sports Medicine. 43, 9, p. 865-873
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2011
- Published
Hanke, N., Scheibe, R. J., Manukjan, G., Ewers, D., Umeda, P. K., Chang, K. C., Kubis, H., Gros, G. & Meissner, J. D., 1 Mar 2011, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research. 1813, 3, p. 377-389
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Markland, D. A., Kubis, H., Sartor, F., Donaldson, L. F., Markland, D., Loveday, H., Jackson, M. J. & Kubis, H. P., 1 Aug 2011, In: Appetite. 57, 1, p. 237-246
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2010
- Published
Kubis, H., Sartor, F., De Morree, H., Matschke, V., Marcora, S. M., Milousis, A., Thom, J. M. & Kubis, H. P., 14 Jul 2010, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 110, 5, p. 893-903
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Sartor, F., Jackson, M. & Kubis, H. P., 27 Mar 2010.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - Published
Kubis, H., Hanke, N., Kubis, H. P., Scheibe, R. J., Berthold-Losleben, M., Husing, O., Meissner, J. D. & Gros, G., 27 Mar 2010.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - Published
Hanke, N., Kubis, H., Scheibe, R. J., Berthold-Losleben, M., Huesing, O., Meissner, J. D. & Gros, G., 13 Jan 2010, In: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology. 298, p. C910-C920
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2009
- Published
Kubis, H., Sartor, F., De Morree, H., Marcora, S. M., Matschke, V., Thom, J. M. & Kubis, H. P., 1 Jan 2009.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - Published
Scholz, M. E., Meissner, J. D., Scheibe, R. J., Umeda, P. K., Chang, K. C., Gros, G. & Kubis, H., 22 Jul 2009, In: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology. 297, p. C1012-C1018
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Tegtbur, U., Busse, M. W. & Kubis, H. P., 1 Apr 2009, In: Unfallchirurg. 112, 4, p. 365-372
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Squillace, C., Salucci, S., Battistelli, M., Burattini, S., Sartor, F., Kubis, H. P. & Falcieri, E., 1 Jan 2009.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
2008
- Published
Kubis, H., Kubis, H. P., Meissner, J. D., Scheibe, R. J., Endeward, V., Gros, G. & Hanke, N., 1 Jan 2008.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper - Published
Hanke, N., Meissner, J. D., Scheibe, R. J., Endeward, V., Gros, G. & Kubis, H., 1 May 2008, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research. 1783, 5, p. 813-825
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2007
- Published
Kubis, H., Meissner, J. D., Chang, K. C., Kubis, H. P., Nebreda, A. R., Gros, G. & Scheibe, R. J., 9 Mar 2007, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 282, 10, p. 7265-7275
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2006
- Published
Kubis, H., Beekley, M. D., Wetzel, P., Kubis, H. P. & Gros, G., 1 Jul 2006, In: Pflugers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology. 452, 4, p. 453-463
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2005
- Published
Kubis, H., Kubis, H. P., Hanke, N., Scheibe, R. J. & Gros, G., 1 Sept 2005, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Cell Research. 1745, 2, p. 187-195
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Kirschner, S. E., Becker, E., Antognozzi, M., Kubis, H. P., Francino, A., Navarro-Lopez, F., Bit-Avragim, N., Perrot, A., Mirrakhimov, M. M., Osterziel, K. J., McKenna, W. J., Brenner, B. & Kraft, T., 1 Mar 2005, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 288, 3, p. H1242-H1251
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2003
- Published
Kubis, H., Kubis, H. P., Hanke, N., Scheibe, R. J., Meissner, J. D. & Gros, G., 1 Jul 2003, In: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology. 285, 1, p. C56-C63
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2002
- Published
Kubis, H., Kubis, H. P., Scheibe, R. J., Meissner, J. D., Hornung, G. & Gros, G., 1 Jan 2002, In: Journal of Physiology. 541, 3, p. 835-847
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Kofidis, T., Akhyari, P., Boublik, J., Theodorou, P., Martin, U., Ruhparwar, A., Fischer, S., Eschenhagen, T., Kubis, H. P., Kraft, T., Leyh, R. & Haverich, A., 1 Jul 2002, In: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 124, 1, p. 63-69
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2001
- Published
Kubis, H., Meissner, J. D., Gros, G., Scheibe, R. J., Scholz, M. & Kubis, H. P., 1 May 2001, In: Journal of Physiology. 533, 1, p. 215-226
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2000
- Published
Kubis, H., Knuppel-Ruppert, A. S., Gros, G., Harringer, W. & Kubis, H. P., 1 Apr 2000, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 278, 4, p. H1335-H1344
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Peters, T., Papadopoulos, F., Kubis, H. P. & Gros, G., 1 Oct 2000, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 203, 19, p. 3003-3009
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H., Meissner, J. D., Kubis, H. P., Scheibe, R. J. & Gros, G., 15 Feb 2000, In: Journal of Physiology. 523, 1, p. 19-28
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1999
- Published
Peters, T., Kubis, H. P., Wetzel, P., Sender, S., Asmussen, G., Fons, R. & Jürgens, K. D., 15 Sept 1999, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 202, 18, p. 2461-2473 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1998
- Published
Brandt, K., Swagemakers, J. H., Bickhardt, K., Kubis, H. P., Gross, G. & Deegen, E., 1998, In: Equine Veterinary Education. 10, 5, p. 250-254 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1997
- Published
Kubis, H.-P. & Gros, G., 1997, In: ELECTROPHORESIS. 18, 1, p. 64-66 3 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review - Published
Kubis, H.-P., Haller, E.-A., Wetzel, P. & Gros, G., 15 Apr 1997, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 94, 8, p. 4205-4210
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1992
- Published
Kubis, H.-P., Balzer, I. & Hardeland, R., May 1992, In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Comparative Pharmacology. 102, 1, p. 97-101 5 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
2022
Fatigue is a common symptom associated with many medical conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and COVID 19, i.e., long COVID. Fatigue manifests itself in the form of exhaustion and tiredness. Indeed, fatigue has a profound impact on sufferers’ quality of life, while treatment schemes are limited and focusing mainly on graded exercise training (GET). Exercise treatment, however, does not recognize potential problems with effort-reward imbalance in fatigue patients affecting motivation for investing effort in tasks. Recently, we have investigated the influence of evaluative conditioning using a novel technique on self-selected exercise intensity and effort sensation in healthy sedentary individuals (Kubis et al. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257953). Outcomes show that individuals self-select exercise intensity significantly higher than control individuals after the conditioning training even weeks after the training. Analyses revealed that the intensity of exercise selected was a function of integrated reward over effort costs. This opens the opportunity to use this type of training for patients with fatigue conditions, conditioned reward (based on our Oro-sensory exercise training) would potentially enable patients to improve their effort-reward imbalance enabling them to increase the intensity of daily activities and reduce fatigue symptoms. Conclusively, our grant application uses funds for bespoke equipment and testing of portable systems which can be used in exercise rehabilitation settings as well as for developing/writing a grant application for a proof of concept / feasibility trial.
Funding awarded through the Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå°æ Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £6947
1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023
Activity: Other (Contributor)
Projects
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01/02/2008 – 31/07/2009 (Finished)