Exploring the muscle-brain-heart connection
Blood pressure control and the distribution of blood volume during stress requires the complex interplay between the heart’s ability to pump blood, the ability to manipulate peripheral blood vessels to distribute blood volume towards the heart and brain, and the brain’s ability to receive the blood through changes in its own vascular supply.
The sympathetic nervous system integrates these actions through its unique ability to coordinate communication among the various players.
However, this communication strategy can break down because of poorly understood problems in the neural message, interpretation of the signal in the target organs, or problems coordinating signals arising from the brain that require an active response.
Physical exercise improves the health of the brain, heart and blood vessels in many populations, but the mechanisms are not clear. Dr. Kevin Shoemaker’s group explores these interactions in health and disease. He is the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Physiology of Exercise and Health.
Using unique signal processing methods, human neural recordings, and functional neuroimaging methods, Shoemaker will explore brain pathways that modulate messages in the sympathetic nervous system, and how the use of muscles during exercise improves this neural control of the heart and blood vessels.
Using advanced ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging methods, Shoemaker’s team aims to improve our understanding of brain blood flow control in health and disease, and to determine the impact of prescriptive exercise interventions on this integrative system.
With emphasis on fundamental knowledge, a highly collaborative approach, and patient-oriented applications, Shoemaker’s research program aims to influence long-term health outcomes in patients with vascular disease.