Matthew Pontifex

Matthew Pontifex is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University's College of Education. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on developmental neurocognitive kinesiology, examining how health-oriented behaviors like physical activity influence cognitive function during preadolescence. He uses behavioral and neuroelectric measures to study the modulation of cognitive control, particularly in chronic and acute contexts.

Key research interests include the application of health behaviors to improve academic performance and neural network maturation in both typically developing children and those with cognitive disorders. His work bridges kinesiology, neuroscience, and developmental psychology.

Lab/Team: His lab's activities are centered at http://education.msu.edu/kin/hbcl/.