James Coxon

James Coxon is an Associate Professor at Monash University's School of Psychological Sciences and an ARC Future Fellow. He is based at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and leads the Movement and Exercise Neuroscience Laboratory (MEXlab). His research focuses on understanding how exercise impacts brain plasticity, learning, and cognition, particularly in aging populations and neurological conditions. He holds a PhD in Human Movement Neuroscience from the University of Auckland and postdoctoral experience at KU Leuven, Belgium.

• Affiliations: Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Victorian Heart Institute (VHI)
• Education: PhD in Human Movement Neuroscience (2007), University of Auckland; BSc (Hons) in Exercise Science (2003), University of Auckland

Research interests span exercise physiology, movement neurophysiology, and cognitive neuroscience, with a focus on non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (EEG, MRI). Key goals include developing exercise-based interventions to promote healthy brain aging and improve symptoms in neurological disorders.

Recent publications highlight the role of dopamine receptors, cortical inhibition, and high-intensity exercise in motor skill acquisition and memory consolidation. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

• Grants: ARC-funded projects on motor skill learning and NHMRC grants for neural circuit dynamics research
• Editorial Roles: Editorial board member for Experimental Brain Research and The Journal of Physiology

MEXlab collaborates internationally to investigate exercise-brain interactions, with a focus on translational research for clinical applications.