Brittany Travers
Position title: Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology
Email: btravers@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 263-0282
Department:
Kinesiology
Education:
M.A. in Cognitive Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Research Description:
My overarching program of research, housed at the Waisman Center on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, focuses on the intersection between sensorimotor skills and neurobiology in individuals on the autism spectrum (henceforth referred to as “autistic individuals”). Specifically, I focus on:
- Human movement and its awe–inspiring, dynamic complexity in neurotypical and neuro–divergent individuals
- How the brain contributes to individual differences in sensory and motor engagement and changes during maturation, learning, and experience
- How motor skills influence an individual’s participation in meaningful activities (i.e., occupations)
As such, my research combines brain imaging (Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI]; Diffusion Weighted Imaging [DWI]) with quantitative measures of motor function, cognition, and daily living skills in autistic children and adolescents. By studying movement, my research has provided unique insights into the symptoms and neurobiological basis of autism, guiding us into the territory of the brainstem and providing insight into how motor challenges relate to cognition and daily life among autistic children, adolescents, and adults.
Research Key Words:
Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensorimotor Skills, Neuro-Divergent Individuals, Daily Living Skills