Science Behind the Games: Minister of State Goodyear Tours University of Ottawa Lab

Ottawa, Ontario
August 8, 2012

From left: Michael Carter, University of Ottawa; Erin Cressman, University of Ottawa; Minister of State Goodyear; Tony Carlsen, University of Ottawa; Neil Drummond, University of Ottawa.

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), toured the laboratory of Dr. Tony Carlsen, Assistant Professor, School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa. His research into false starts could improve athletes' preparatory routines and eventually lead to a rule change about false starts. Using various timing methods and stimuli, Dr. Carlsen's team has been able to assess how the brain behaves before runners kick off. Their findings indicate that even the tiniest stimulus can set off a response because the brain is primed to signal the body to take action.

NSERC Impact Story: Jumping the Gun

Source: Peter Thornton, University of Ottawa

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